332 Journal of Agricultural Research voi. xxii, no. 6 



96 days, though the average duration was 85 days. The larvae as hatched 

 were placed in small tin salve boxes containing about X inch of slightly 

 moist soil and split wheat grains. As the larA^se became large, whole 

 wheat grains were used as food. Under field conditions many of the 

 larvse appear to become nearly mature during late fall and overwinter 

 in this condition. From about November i to March 15 in the latitude 

 of southern Kansas they are exceedingly inactive and feed but little. 

 The rapidity of growth of the larvffi undoubtedly depends to a large 

 degree upon weather and seasonal conditions and the quantity and 

 quality of food available. Shortly before the period of pupation the 

 larva does not feed and assumes a semidormant stage of approximately 

 7 to 9 days' duration. 



The pupa stage, when rearings were conducted under laboratory 

 conditions, comprised 18 to 20 days. The pupse are pinkish white im- 

 mediately after transformation, and as development proceeds the color 

 changes to light yellow. Shortly before the adults emerge the append- 

 ages take on a yellowish brown tint. 



The newly issued adults are of a brighter color, and the chitinous 

 portions of the body are soft. Within a few days, however, the color 

 darkens and the integument hardens so that the newly emerged adults 

 are not distinguishable. Under artificial conditions mating does not 

 become general for a week or more after emergence. Oviposition and 

 feeding appear to occur usually at night. The adults are crepuscular. 

 They may be found abroad in greatest numbers on cloudy days or in 

 early morning or late evening. On clear days, during the middle or 

 warmer portion of the day, they remain under shelter. While usually 

 inactive at such periods, if disturbed they will run with great rapidity. 

 The insect may overwinter both in the adult and in the larva stages. In 

 the latitude of southern Kansas, however, the mortality of such over- 

 wintering adults is great. 



ENEMIES 



While the incomplete character of the life-history work performed with 

 Embaphion muricahtm afforded comparatively little opportunity for 

 obtaining parasites under artificial conditions, or for obtaining data on 

 other enemies for possible use in control work, yet some noteworthy 

 information was obtained. From adults of E. imiricaium collected by 

 the MTiter from barley at Colby, Kans., on August 25 there were reared 

 on October 23 adults of a parasite determined by A. B. Gahan of the 

 Bureau of Entomology as Perilihis eleodis Viereck {13). No life-history 

 work on these parasites was attempted. 



Considerable difficulty was experienced in rearing larvae owing to the 

 presence in the cages of a fungus, Metarrhizium anisoplae Metsch. Soc. ; 

 and though the apparatus and soil were sterilized, yet the mortality was 

 sufficient at times to interfere to a marked extent with the rearing. A 



