Seasonal distribi'tiox. 



The season of appearance of the adnlts seems to vary considerably 

 in different localities. All adults that have heen collected at Santa 

 Rita were found between early August and the middle of October. 

 A specimen was collected at Aiiasco in September. 



A number of specimens from La Plata, in the center of the Island, 

 were colilected in the middle of June. 



At Garrochales, near Arecibo, the writer collected 35 specimens, 

 on one Lantana plant hy the road, on April 26. 



Single individuals collected by electric light at San Juan and 

 Rio Piedras bear the following dates: June 6, July -4, August 25, 

 October 15, November 8 and December 1, thus covering a range of 

 seven months. 



Food Plants of Adults. 



At Santa Rita, all specimens collected by the writer were found 

 feeding upon "bledo," or pig weed (Amardnthus spp.), or upon 

 "malojillo," or Para grass (Paiiiriim Ixirhiitodt ) . the majoi'ity uj^ou 

 the former. A single specimen was feeding upon "salcilla" {Schra)i-- 

 lia portoricensis) . In experimental cages adults were seen feeding 

 ui)on corn foliage. Xo specimens were seen feeding u{)on cane, 

 though they occurred plentifully in the cane tields. and doubtless tlie 

 grubs attacked cane roots. 



The series of l)eetles collected at Garrochales were all feeding upon 

 Lantana inrohicrata, though there was a great variety of other vege- 

 tables near at hand. 



Flight and Attractjon to Ligjit. 



Flight of the species was observt^l at Santa Hita in a large i-eai-ing 

 cage on the night of September 1. 1!)14. The iirst individuals left 

 the ground and took wing at exactly ti :•').") P. M. The ninnbers in 

 Hight increased most rapidly fioni f>:.').') to 7:il(). .uul eontiiiiied heavy 

 until nearly 7:1(». then gradually dropped off. l'>y 7:20 Hight was 

 quite light, but coutiinied to some extent until 7 ::>(•. when a Nci-y lew 

 wei-e still Hying. The last beetle ceased flyin'j- about 7::!."). .Most of 

 the beetles Hew against the west side of the cage. 



.\ll till' specimens of this beeth' eolleeled ;it Rio l*ie(li-as or San 

 Juan ha\-e been taken ;it li^hl, and ;i vcyy few wci'e taki'U at Santa 

 Rita at a. large gasoline laiii|). 



166 



