108 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 2 



by biologists. It seems to me that they, among the scientific men that 

 I have known, have maintained that spirit of generosity, and friend- 

 liness, and courtesy which makes their meetings pleasanter and frees 

 their publications from unnecessary criticism. Of course, there are 

 exceptions, and the entomologists are perhaps less faulty in these par- 

 ticulars than others, but it seems to me that this point in Mr. Web- 

 ster's address should be emphasized. I think we should endeavor to 

 develop the spirit of leniency and courtesy rather than the reverse. 



President Forbes: If there is no further discussion we will now 

 take up the next paper. 



BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON MURGANTIA HISTRIONICA 



HAHN. 



By R. I. Smith. Kaleigh, N. C. 



As a result of a somewhat disconnected study of Murgantia liis- 

 trionica, 1 have ascertained a few points concerning the life history of 

 this insect, which will be briefly presented, with the preliminary ex- 

 plantion that some of the work reported upon is not complete in many 

 respects and may, by some of my entomological friends, be considered 

 premature. However, it is hoped that the notes will be of some value 

 as an addition to the knowledge of this troublesome pest. 



Definite observations and notes were first made on April 4, 1908, at 

 West Ealeigh, N. C, where all the work herein recorded was done. 

 On the date mentioned adult insects were found in abundance on 

 turnip and collard plants, on which they were feeding and mating 

 most actively. It was then observed that very few egg masses could 

 be found and no nymphs were observed until ten days later, or on 

 April 14. Hence this date is considered as approximately the be- 

 ginning of the first seasonal brood for the year. Some springs may 

 bring forth adults and young at an earlier date. 



Notes on Egg Laying Habits 



It is generally understood that twelve is the normal number of eggs 

 deposited in each mass, and that these are ordinarily placed on end 

 in two parallel rows of six each, closely cemented together, the eggs 

 usually alternating like the cells of a honeycomb. As a matter of 

 fact, more eggs are laid in more or less irregular masses than in two 

 parallel rows of six each. Out of 94 egg masses laid by females under 

 observation in the laboratory, 62 were irregular in form but contained 

 12 eggs each, and only 19 were regular, with 12 eggs each, while 13 

 masses varied in numbers from 8 to 14. Twelve eggs for each mass 



