54 Journal New York Entomological Society, t^'o'- xxviii. 



evening primrose although we have no definite records nor have we 

 observed this plant to be infested with it. All of our observations 

 have been made on the evening primrose. The insect hibernates as 

 an adult, both sexes living through the wnnter, as, the beetles have 

 been noted in copulation during the spring and early summer. 

 Blatchley and Leng (loc. cit.) state that it hibernates beneath boards 

 and rubbish and Mr. Stafford obtained two specimens while sifting 

 material in the grass along the edge of a peach orchard at Vineland, 

 N. J., March i. 



As soon as the weather becomes sufficiently warm in the spring 

 the insects leave their hibernation quarters and after feeding and 

 mating, the females oviposit. Most of the egg punctures occur on 

 the main stem of the plant, but a number of them may be found on 

 the branches. The number occurring on this latter place depends 

 on the size of the plant and the amount of oviposition. The seed 

 capsules also serve as a place for oviposition at times and even the 

 underside of the leaf petiole is utilized although it is questionable 

 whether any of the eggs located in the latter situation produce adults. 



The egg scar consists of an oval area of which the surface tissue 

 at both ends has been pulled back in fine strips and pressed down 

 over the egg which is located in a cavity at the center of the scar. 

 These threads or strips are of a considerable number. They are not 

 drawn back parallel with the stem but some are drawn more or less 

 .laterally. Gradually they dry and as fine particles of dirt collect on 

 them, they become dark in color. The scars, especially those located 

 on the lower part of the stem, gradually change their appearance, as 

 the stem grows, becoming more or less rounded ; the surface in some 

 cases becomes split above and below and ridged on both sides of 

 the scar and the covering of matted threads becomes loose and 

 falls off. 



These scars may vary from 5 to 8 mm. long and from 3 to 8 mm. 

 wide. Measurements of seventeen scars gave an average of 7 mm. 

 long by 5.7 mm. wide. The egg cavity has a diameter of approxi- 

 mately 1.5 mm. The insects has been observed ovipositing on more 

 than one occasion and Girault (loc. cit.) has also noted it. The fol- 

 lowing observation made at Trenton, N. J., June 18, will give an 

 idea of the modus operandi. 



A female unaccompanied by a male was noted in the act of ovi- 

 position on the stem. Part of the egg cavity had been eaten out 



