June, 1913-] Proceedings of the Society. 169 



of the theft by a female Canthon of a ball prepared and rolled some distance 

 by another pair; and of the similar balls occasionally made by Phanaus. 



This subject was further discussed by Mr. Davis, who referred to the 

 depth of the holes made by Copris, reaching 24 inches at times, but varying 

 with the character of the soil ; and the fact that chance often determines the 

 location of the hole, as he had seen the imprint of a pig's foot turned to 

 account. He said it was evident that the material of the ball was all the 

 Canthon larva had to eat, for the balls were often a distance from the 

 manure. 



Mr. Bischoff speaking of the balls made by Phanaus carnifex said that 

 no ball was made when the ground beneath the excrement was suitable for 

 digging, but when it was rocky or very hard the beetles formed the ball and 

 rolled it to softer ground. 



Mr. Dow said his first Necrophorus vespilloides was caught burying the 

 butterfly Vanessa antiopa. 



Mr. Angell speaking of Deltochilitm said that it was apparently not always 

 attracted by excrement, as Brownwell had written him of finding it at night 

 about small trapped mammals at Cape Sable, Fla. 



Mr. Schaeffer spoke of Geotrupes chalybaus having been attracted in 

 Florida by stale urine. 



Mr. Davis referred to his article on " Owl Pellets and Insects " in Vol. 

 XVII of our Journal (June, 1909) in which the capture of Trox erinacens 

 and T. seaber attracted by the hair contained in the pellets is mentioned. 



Mr. Shoemaker spoke of Phanaus carnifex observed rolling balls in 

 Maryland. 



Mr. Barber, speaking of the Hemiptera of Carrion and Excrement, said 

 that instances of their occurrence in such environment were rare, though 

 some were certainly fungus feeders; the observation by Mr. Engelhardt of 

 Corynocoris typhceus in a dead turtle being a remarkable exception. Bedbugs 

 have also been found on dead animal matter. 



Mr. Davis said he had found Apiomerus crassipes three times on manure 

 piles and thought it was waiting for insects to coine within its reach. 



Mr. Weeks added that the predaceous Reduviidas were often found in 

 such situations. 



Dr. Osburn said he knew of no dragon flies or stone flies attracted by 

 excrement or carrion ; and that such matters seemed to be avoided by primi- 

 .tive insects. 



Mr. Sleight said the Trichoptera would be found on decaying vegetable 

 matter but not in manure. 



Mr. Dickerson called attention to page 34 of Smith's List, in which the 

 occurrence of spring-tails (Collembola) in manure beds is recorded. 



Dr. Barnes speaking of Lepidoptera said that no instances of larva: 

 living in excrement or carrion could be cited, but that such matters often 

 attracted imagos. He mentioned Papilio indra seen in Colorado about a 

 buried dead mule, and Argynnis meadii in Idaho on dead sheep ; besides fre- 

 quent occurrences on decayed fruit. 



