44 Observations on various Insects 



(fig. 9) ; they are convex externally, terminating in three teeth, 

 and meeting in front when closed ; below these are placed two 

 maxillcB (fig. 10), broad and flattened, each forming a ciliated lobe 

 in the inside ; just behind this is inserted a very short three- 

 jointed palpus or feeler ; between these maxillcB is placed the 

 horny mentum or chin, from which arises a membranous pubes- 

 cent lip, the palpi or feelers being very indistinct (fig. 11). The 

 head and trunk are punctured ; the former is channelled between 

 the eyes, and the latter has a channel down the hinder part : the 

 body is covered by two wing-cases, on which are sixteen punc- 

 tured furrows, and beneath these are folded and concealed the 

 two ample membranous wings. It has two eyes near the base of 

 the head, and the pair of eleven-jointed horns are placed on each 

 side of the trunk, and near the middle ; they terminate in a little 

 oval club; the first joint is the largest, and is bright ochreous, 

 and sometimes the second and third also : the six legs are of the 

 same bright ochreous colour, the tips of the thighs being black, 

 as well as the shanks (excepting the first pair), and all the feet : 

 the tarsi or feet are composed of four joints, the third being 

 bilobed, the fourth club-shaped and terminated by two minute 

 curved acute claws. The male is rather smaller than Xh.e female, 

 with a shorter and stouter rostrum. 



These little beetles are probably in greatest abundance when 

 the clover is in flower, at which period the female deposits her 

 eggs. This may be easily ascertained by the numbers which 

 are pairing about that time. My observations on their economy 

 have been principally made In the months of August, September, 

 October, and November. On examining the heads of the purple 

 or lioneysuckle clover at the end of August and the beginning of 

 the following month, when the clover was in flower and many 

 of the heads appeared blighted, I found three or four little fat 

 white maggots, with brown heads, curled up at the base of the 

 calyces (fig. 1). The larva, or maggots, were eating the seed 

 from the outside of the calyx, through a hole which they had 

 first made (fig. 2). They change to p?/^(E in the same situation, 

 and when the beetles hatch the females proceed, after impregna- 

 tion, to a fresh head of flowers, to deposit their eggs. In the 

 middle of the followins: November I aijaln examined the clover- 



o — ... 



heads, and found two larva^, like little Melolontliida^, with six dis- 

 tinct pectoral legs (fig. 3 ; 4 magnified). The jmpa is of an 

 ovate form, tender, whitish, with dark eyes, and through the thin 

 skin may be traced the form of the proboscis, which Is bent down 

 on the breast, below which the legs are folded (fig. 5 ; 6 mag- 

 nified). In this state it generally remains about twelve days, or 

 it may be till the following spring. When the beetles are first 

 hatched they are very soft and tender, and I have observed that 



