336 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 2 



body sutures, usually back of the head or on the terminal abdominal 

 segments, which in a few days would extend nearly completely around 

 the body and within a short time after this the larva would be dead. 

 Three different lots of larvae, secured at various times and placed in 

 different cages all finally succumbed to this disease. The living larvs 

 took advantage of the presence of the dead ones by eating them, and 

 several specimens were taken from the cages in a partially devoured 

 condition. The larvae shun light and if taken out and released dig 

 back into the earth with great rapidity. When first disturbed they 

 almost invariably feign death and after lying motionless for a time 

 suddenly dig into the earth or run away with frantic energy. The 

 pupae are very sensitive and wriggle and twist vigorously if disturbed 

 in any way. The beetles fed voraciously upon corn leaves in our 

 breeding cages, gnawing large longitudinal holes in them in a short 

 time. 



While Eleodes opaca is undoubtedly the species responsible for most 

 of the injury to planted grain in this state, frequently a larva appar- 

 ently belonging to one of our several other species is found in the same 

 situations as opaca. In Nebraska we have E. tricostata Say, E. oh- 

 scura Say, E. suturalis Say, E. pimeliodes Mann., and E. liispUahris 

 Say extending over practically the entire state, E. opaca Say, E. ohso- 

 leta Say and E. extricata Say occurring in the central and western 

 portions, and E. nigrina Lee. occurring in the extreme northwestern 

 part of the state, and some of these species undoubtedly occasionally 

 attack planted grain. Other related genera may also take some part, 

 as specimens of Embapliion muricatum Say occurred this year in com- 

 pany w^th the swarms of Eleodes opaca in the infested fields. 



DEMONSTRATION WORK IN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



By Franklin Sherman, Jr., Entomologist, State Dept. of Agriculture. 



Raleigh, N. C. 



Probably every entomologist feels that the importance of his work is 

 not properly appreciated by his public. We find that the public does 

 not understand an entomological emergency when it exists, — that it 

 does not always take us at our word when we say that certain treat- 

 ments are effective, practical and necessary, — or if the public listens 

 to our recommendations at all it is only with indifference, to go its 

 way in the old lines. 



To be sure there is in every state a progressive element (larger in 

 some states than in others, but always in the minority) that keeps 



