CACTUS-FEEDING INSECTS AND MITES 101 



Moneilema appressa LeConte 



A small- to moderate-size black species, this varies considerably 

 in size; some individuals do not exceed one-half inch in length. Al- 

 diough widely distributed, it has not been found commonly in any 

 area. Adults have been collected in May, July, and September in 

 New Mexico at Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Santa Rosa, Carlsbad, and in 

 the Penasco Valley. Others have been taken at Ashfork, Arizona, 

 and Zion National Park, Utah, in July and at Santa Isabel and 

 Moctezuma, State of Chihuahua, Mexico, in September. 



Moneilema corrugans Casey 



This rather large species is related to M. appressa; the elytra are faintly 

 ribbed longitudinally and are very dark brown rather than black. 

 The mode of locomotion differs from that observed in all other mem- 

 bers of the genus in that the head is lowered and the body is raised 

 high on the legs instead of being carried horizontally; this peculiar 

 walking habit resembles that of the North American tenebrionid 

 beetles of the genus Eleodes. 



The distribution seems to be restricted to southeastern Arizona and 

 southwestern New Mexico. It has been collected in Arizona at Oracle 

 and in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, 

 in the Pinalino and Huachuca Mountains, and at Douglas; New 

 Mexican localities are Silver City and Deming. Adults were rather 

 abundant at Silver City, Deming, Douglas, and the Huachuca 

 Mountains. 



Apparently there is one generation annually, the adults emerging in 

 July. Beedes have not been captured in the field except in July and 

 August; material collected in these months and placed in cages died 

 before the end of October. Larvae found at Douglas in February pro- 

 duced adults in July. Eggs were laid in cages in July and August, being 

 deposited singly in earth cells against the base of the prickly pear plants; 

 the eggs were relatively large and compared in size with those of 

 M. gigas. Larvae from these were one-half grown in the following 

 February. Platyopuntias appear to be favored, but as with other 

 Moneilema no preference for specific host plants has been observed. 



Moneilema annulata Say 



This small black species is the most northerly representative of the genus, 

 having been recorded from Wyoming, Washington, and Montana, 

 as well as from Alberta, Canada. During the Board's investigations, 

 adults were taken in June and July at Dalhart in northwestern Texas, 

 at Trinidad, Walsenberg, and Litdeton in Colorado, and at Wallace 



