44 



Journal of Agricultural Research 



,'oh XIX, No. I 



compressed and curved, ventrally inflated at middle, emarginate beyond this 

 and bilobed at apex, thus forming a groove for the tibise. Tibiae moderately straight, 

 grooved beneath and provided with a row of setae on each side of the groove, apically 

 curved downwards, terminating in a strong hook. Tarsi 4-jointed, first longer than 

 broad, widest at apex, second about as long as broad, third about as long as first but 

 broader at apex, emarginate for reception of fourth. Fourth elongate, curved, sub- 

 cylindrical, armed with two curved, divergent claws. Intercoxal piece broad, angu- 

 late. First two abdominal segments connate at middle. Third and fourth segments 

 about as long as second. Fifth segment longer, turned downward. 



- LIFE HISTORY 



The female beetle having been fertilized enters between a leaf sheath 

 and the stem and selects a spot for the deposition of an c^gg. The beetle 

 then prepares a small cavity by means of the powerful mandibles located 

 at the tip of the rostrum or beak. After having completed the cavity 

 the beetle reverses its position and with the aid of the ovipositor deposits 

 a single e^gg in the prepared place (fig. i). On February 9, 191 8, many 

 eggs were observed which were laid apparently a short 

 time previously in the tissues, usually in the small com- 

 partments in the sheaths or stem. A few eggs were 

 even found laid loosely in the slightly decayed leaf 

 sheaths close to the healthy fleshy banana bulb, from 

 which place they entered the bulb. The eggs, for the 

 most part, are deposited singly in the sheaths near the 

 crown at the surface of the soil. On hatching, the ^gg 

 does not completely collapse. The larv' ae eat their way 

 in all directions in the bulb, and one can easily trace 

 a channel as it gradually grows wider, terminating in 

 a pouch near the outer surface in which the larva pu- 

 sJ^idus: se^a" 'of pates on reaching maturity. The records for oviposi- 

 i^?omp^rtin«it."* ^'^ tion, hatching, and pupation are given in Table I. 



_J 



jmm 



"1 



Table I. — Egg and larval records of Cosmopolites sordidus, igiS 



