THE HEATHER BEETLE 42& 



After observing the above details in the transformation of several examples, 

 I placed all the newly emerged beetles, together with a large number of others 

 received from correspondents, in a breeding-cage on a sod of healthy heather. 

 In a very short time they had all disappeared, and in order to satisfy myself 

 as to their whereabouts I detached a small piece of the sod (about 4 inches 

 square), and tore it carefully bit by bit into small fragments. In this way 

 I found in this small piece five beetles lying in a torpid condition in little 

 hollows immediately below the surface of the soil. When the moss, etc., 

 was gently torn off, the beetles were betrayed by their shining elytra, as they 

 lay back xi'pivards. They began to move when disturbed, and three of them 

 got away and were recaptvired. This observation tends to prove that the 

 beetles assume the hibernating condition immediately after completing their 

 development, which in most cases is effected by the third or fourth week of 

 October. This date, of course, may vary slightly according to local conditions. 



It is a matter for regret that I have not been able to trace the life history 

 any further. Considerably over two hundred specimens were kept alive in 

 my cages throughout the winter, and early in the spring of 1909 (March 2nd 

 and succeeding days), under the influence of the sunshine streaming into the 

 room, they emerged from the soil in numbers, and became very active and 

 excited, a few specimens indulging in short flights. Several were soon pair- 

 ing ; but I was never able, even with the most careful searching, to discover 

 any eggs. Further investigation is therefore necessary before the biography 

 of this interesting little beetle can be fully written. 



