208 



JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



[Vol. 12 





Fig. 9. Phytonomus meles; h, Thorax. 



The beetle is from one seventh to one fifth of an inch in length and, 

 in general, of a grayish or greenish-brown color. The specimens reared 



by us are distinctly striped 

 /!MM^^ with longitudinal lines of light 

 brown scales near the lateral 

 edges of the elytra. The tho- 

 rax has two wide, dark longi- 

 tudinal dorsal stripes separat- 

 ed on the median line by a 

 narrow golden-brown stripe 

 (Fig. 9). The thorax is wider 

 than long and markedly 

 rounded on each side while 

 the thorax of P. nigrirostris is longer than wide and less rounded on 

 the sides (Fig. 8, a). 



Our studies began too late in the season to find the eggs but Titus 

 has found them deposited on and in the stems, and leaf petioles of 

 clover and alfalfa and on blossoms of clover. The larvge were present 

 in abundance however in the heads of clover. The larvae probably 

 spin their cocoons in the field on the heads of clover, often between the 

 bracts on the head and probably also in the axils of the branches. All 

 of the cocoons observed were formed in the laboratory under abnormal 

 conditions but their positions indicate that they would be placed in 

 the field as suggested. The pupse are interesting from their conspic- 

 uous and active movements in their cocoons. In one instance a pupa 

 was formed which had not been able for some reason to spin its cocoon. 

 The violent and rapid movements of this pupa when disturbed seemed 

 quite remarkable. Moreover, the same movements of the pupse within 

 the cocoons were repeatedly noted. The following table presents data 

 on the length of the cocoon stage: 



Duration of Period in Cocoon 

 Date of Spinning Cocoon Emergence of Beetle Period in Cocoon, Days 



July 2 

 July 2 

 July 4 

 Julys 

 July 6 

 July 10 

 July 10 



July 21 

 July 18 

 July 18 

 July 19 

 July 19 

 July 23 

 July 22 



19 

 16 

 14 

 14 

 13 

 13 

 12 



It will be seen from the foregoing table that the time spent in the 

 cocoon varies from 12 to 19 days, the period apparently growing shorter 

 with the advancing season. 



