ENTOMOLOGY. 963 



The immature stages of Diabrotica soror, P. W. Doane {Jour. 

 T3nt. Soc, 5 (1897), No. 1, pp. 15-17). — The hitherto unknown history of 

 this insect has been studied. 



The oval, dirty white egg measures 0.7 by 0.5 nun. and has a finely 

 sculptured surface, due to the hexagonal areas formed by the follicular 

 cells. The full-grown larva measures 12 mm. in length and tapers 

 slightly toward the head. The general color is white, often turning 

 yellowish near the time of pupation. The head, dorsal shield, and the 

 last abdominal segment are brown. There is but a single pair of fleshy 

 prolegs. Near the posterior end are several strong marginal hairs and 

 2 subtriangular processes. 



The pupa is whitish or straw-colored and measures 4 by 2 mm. and 

 is provided with brown hairs more or less definitely arranged. The 

 eggs are deposited from \ to i in. below the surface of the ground near 

 the base of some plant. Usually from L'O to 50 are laid in one spot, but 

 sometimes only one. The larvae develop slowly, for they were found in 

 various sizes on the roots of plants in March, April, and May. The 

 roots are eaten on the outside and are not bored into. The range of 

 food plants is wide. Larvae are often found in abundance on roots of 

 sweet peas and alfalfa. The adults often give fruit growers consider- 

 able trouble by eating young fruit. 



The number of molts in insects of different orders, A. S. 

 Packakd (Psyche, 1S97, No. 258, pp. 121-126). — The number of molts 

 varies with the latitude, temperature, and other conditions. Semi- 

 starvation and consequent prolongation of life seems to favor an increase 

 in the number. Some species molt once more in the southern than in 

 the northern United States. In Campodia there is a single fragmentary 

 molt, according to Grassi, and in Collembola (Macrotoma plumbea), ac- 

 cording to Sommer, the skin is shed throughout life. Hibernating 

 larvae molt oftener than summer broods. Among Orthoptera the num- 

 ber of molts varies from 2 (Diapheromera femorata) to 7 (Mantes religi- 

 osa and Periplaneta americana). Among Homoptera there are from 2 

 to 4 molts. Iu the May fly (Chelon) there are 20 molts. In the neurop- 

 terous Ascalaphns insimulans of Ceylon there are 3. Plecaptera (Pan- 

 orpa) molt 7 times; in Coleoptera the number varies so far as known 

 from 3 (Phytonomus punctatus) to more than 15 (Trogoderma tarsale). 

 Siphonaptera molt 3 times. In Lepidoptera the average number of 

 molts is 4, the greatest number known being 11 (Phyoractia Isabella). 

 Among the Diptera there are from 2 (Calliphora) to 11 (Harpiphorus 

 varianus). In the Hymenoptera (Aphis mellifica) there are, according 

 to Chesshire, probably 6 molts. 



Monograph of the genus Aspidiotus, G. Leonaedi (Riv. Pat. 

 Veg., 5 (189G- , 97), No. 9-12, pp. 283-280).— In this, a preliminary note, 

 Leonardi jiroposes the new genera of the Aspidioti, Odonaspis, Chen- 

 traspis, and Phaulaspis and arranges the numerous species of the 9 

 genera of the group as follows: A. Aspidiotus nerii, juglans-regice, pini, 



