ART. 23. BLISTER BEETLE TRICKANIA PARKER AND BOVING. 13 



which deposit a small amount of eggs and comparatively very 

 small, only i-1 mm., in forms whidi lay many eggs. The absolute 

 size, of course, depends also on the size of the species. 



The shape of the egg is cylindrical with both ends rounded, 

 but it varies in the different forms from short and wide with 

 embryo bent double, as in many species of Zonabris, to rather elon- 

 gate with embryo straight with bent head as in all NemogTiathinae. 



Contrary to what is found in Tricrania^ it has been recorded that 

 in many blister beetles the same female deposits her eggs at different 

 periods and in different places. Two, or three, or four separate 

 ovipositions with the interval of one or two weeks ;frequently 

 occur, and in the forms which oviposit on plants, the female places 

 her eggs in several packages, each containing about 100 eggs or 

 more. Further, it has been recorded that in several Meloids the 

 female copulates more than once to effect two or more consecu- 

 tive deposits, and the males do not die after the first copulation. 



B. DESCRIPTION OF THE SIX IN STARS OF LARVA. 

 FIRST LARVAL INSTAR." 



Figs. 1-6, 9, 13, 23-25. 



Length, 1 — 1.5 mm. Width, about 0.4 mm. 



Color, head shining, ochraceous, with a black round spot surround- 

 ing the eyes; tergal shields and legs shining, sepia brown, with base 

 of legs and hind margin of shields darker; intersegmental mem- 

 branes gi'ayish. 



Setae, in general few and small; antenna, maxilla, legs and ninth 

 abdominal segment carrying a single, or a few long or fairly long 

 setae (macrochaetae), possibly with tactile function. 



Body form, rather short, fusiform with metathorax the broadest 

 segment ; thoracic segments of subequal length ; head and thorax to- 

 gether half the size of entire bod3^ Medio-dorsal longitudinal 

 suture almost fully developed on prothorax ; fully developed on meso- 

 and metathorax. Legs long; tarsus slender, conico-falciform with 

 two rather strong setae at base. Abdomen subconical. with one short 

 machochaeta terminally on each side of ninth segment. 



Head, (figs. 3, 13) large, almost one-fifth the length of the body, 

 length from anterior margin of head capsule to dorsal margin of 

 occipital foramen approximately equal to extreme width. Porrect 



2 The terms " stage " and " instar " have been applied as used by David Sharp and as 

 formulated by J. W. Folsom in his Manual, 1913, p. 128 : " During the growth of every 

 insect, the skin is shed periodically and with each moult, or ecdysis, the appearance of 

 the insect changes more or less. The intervals between the moults are termed stages 

 or 'stadia.' To designate the insect at any particular stage, the term Hnstar' has been 

 proposed and is growing in favor ; thus the insect at hatching is 'the first instar,' after 

 the first moult the 'second instar,' and so on." 



