Pupa, and Pre-emergence of Adult,. 



The length of duration of the pupal stage of six individuals, 

 Avas observed and recorded, the average from them being 20.9 days. 

 The maximum was 23 days, the minimum 19 days. The average 

 measurements, from nine pupae, were as follows : length, 27.72 mm. ; 

 width at middle, 12.14 mm. ; breadth of head, 6.8 mm. It will be 

 seen from these figures that the pupa, like the adult, is somewhat 

 larger in size than that of P. vandinei. 



We have not as yet secured figures to show the average length 

 of time spent by the adult of this species in the pupal cell, following 

 its issuing from the pupa, before it digs to the surface of the ground. 

 In all probability the time varies from two weeks to a month or more, 

 depending both upon the season of year and the moisture content 

 of the soil. During the winter months the beetle might be expected 

 to spend as much as two or three months in the pupal cell before 

 digging to the surface. 



Feeding Habits of Adult. 



The feeding habits of adults of this species, and their preferences 

 as to food plants, correspond exactly with those of its near ally, 

 P. vandinei. The beetles feed upon the foliage of a rather wide 

 range of plants, but show decided preference for certain species. 

 Some of these, as for instance, the banana, casuarina, or fiamboyant 

 trees, may be almost stripped of foliage by the beetles. Other trees, 

 of larger size or with heavier foliage, such as the almendro, guama, 

 coconut, breadfruit and trumpet tree, may have the foliage badly 

 eaten, but do not show the injury so much as do the species first 

 named. Some other trees observed or reported to be fed upon to an 

 injurious extent by May-beetles are : bamboo {Bambusa vulgaris), avo- 

 cado {Persea gratissinia), achiote {Bira orellana) , cacao {Theohroma 

 rncao), guano (Ochroma logo pus), roseapple {Jambosa jamhos) , numgo 

 {Mangifera indica), and mamey {Mammea americana) , though it has 

 not been definitely ascertained in every instance whether the species 

 doing the damage is this one. 



Besides the trees named al)ove, and those previously mentioned 

 of P. vandinei, the following plants are fed upon to some extent by 

 tbis species: Ficus laevigata, Cordia corymhosa, (^ordia horinqw na, 

 Albizzia lebhcl- and the corozo palm (Acrocomia media). Grasses, 

 aside from cane, are not as a general rule eaten. Sugar-cane foliage, 

 though sometimes showing injury from their feeding, is not as a 

 usual thing noticeably damaged, except where other and more pala- 

 tal)le foliage is not near at hand. 



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149 



