256 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 10 



In the records of the Department of Entomology, Kansas State 

 Agricultural College, was found a note dated August 19, 1902, recording 

 the adults feeding on the roots of celery. A large celery patch, under 

 irrigation at Scott City, Kansas, was almost ruined by this species. 

 As many as twenty-five specimens were taken around a single plant. 

 According to another record, four individuals were found in celery stubs 

 at Portahs, New Mexico, August 18, 1909. At Gove, Kansas, Septem- 

 ber 22, 1908, this species did much damage to sugar beets. It has also 

 been found feeding at the roots of sunflowers at Manhattan, Kansas. 



Description of Life-History Stages 



The Egg. — The egg (PI. 12, fig. 2) superficially resembles those of 

 other related genera, such as Cyclocephala, Phyllophaga, Anomala, and 

 Euphoria. It is almost globular in form, one axis being slightly longer. 

 When freshly laid, it is about 1.5-1.8 mm. long and as development 

 proceeds an enlargement occurs so that, when ready to hatch, it has 

 increased to about 2.5 mm. It is pure white in color, smooth, and 

 shining. As the embryo develops within, the color changes to a duller 

 white and some of the lustre is lost. A few days after deposition, the 

 young larva can be discerned through the shell. Just previous to 

 hatching, larval segmentation, movement of the appendages, and the 

 opening and closing of the brownish mandibles can be observed. 



Eggs are laid at the bases of plants, preferably in soil, containing a 

 large amount of decaying organic matter. In laboratory cages, they 

 were laid in loose soil to the depth of 5-6 inches. Oviposition occurs 

 as earlj^ as May 29 at Manhattan. In outdoor cages, the first eggs 

 hatched on June 19. In hatching, the larva, doubled over within the 

 egg, splits the shell in the region back of the head. By merely straight- 

 ening out the bod}', the anterior half of the larva becomes free, while 

 the shell remains attached to the dorsal surface of the abdomen. The 

 larva, by bending the body and pushing with its head, finally works it- 

 self entirely free. These efforts are aided by twisting movements and 

 rubbing against the surrounding soil. 



The average duration of the egg stage of 555 eggs was 10.9 days, 

 with a maximum of 22 days and a minimum of 7 days. Egg-laying 

 began May 29 and lasted until July 24. Eggs were not laid by females 

 taken at lights after the latter date. 



The Larva. — The entire body of the newh^ hatched larva is white, 

 except the brownish mandibles. A few hours after hatching, the head 

 begins to darken and takes on its characteristic brown color. The 

 body assumes a characteristic bluish color, and after feeding for some 

 time a black meconium, due to dirt in the alimentary tract, appears in 

 the posterior end of the abdomen. 



