386 - Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. XII, 



about the same time that the larvae of the latter species leave 

 the mines of the leaves of Typha to become stem borers. Thus 

 while they are exposed they might easily fall prey to the Carabid 

 larvae. " 



From the above quotation it would seem that there is a 

 possible relationship between the occurrence of the mud cells 

 of C. impunctifrons on Typha and the food of the issuing larvae 

 as being the Lepidopterous inhabitants of Typha. 



The writer believes that so far with all the known species of 

 Carabidae which deposit their eggs in earthen cells on plants, 

 there is no correlation between the immediate location of the 

 egg cells and the feeding habits of the issuing larvae. He 

 believes, therefore, that Claassen's statements are misleading 

 and for Chlaenius impunctifrons points out the following 

 reasons : 



First, because Chlaenius impunctifrons is often found in 

 abundance in habitats where Typha and its inhabitants are 

 entirely wanting. Second, the larvae of this species are not 

 climbers, it being doubtful if they could climb the smooth leaves 

 of Typha. As observed by the writer the larvae either in 

 captivity or in nature were never seen to climb and in their 

 natural state have been observed at night running about 

 among stones and debris on the muddy shores of the Susque- 

 hanna. In nature I have never observed the larvae feeding, 

 however, in captivity they were general feeders preying upon 

 all soft bodied insects which were not too active to escape them. 

 They fed greedily on small Lepidopterous larvae (Gelechids and 

 Geometrids) CoUembola, termites, crippled flies and the larv« 

 and pupae of several species of ants. The ant larvae and pupae 

 were easily collected and proved an ideal food for the Carabid 

 larvae, consequently they were used as the chief food in rearing 

 all the species mentioned in this paper, with the exception of 

 Brachynus. 



A further lack of such correlation between the place of egg 

 laying and the feeding habits of the larvae is shown in Chlaenius 

 aestivus which deposits her eggs in cells on dead twigs, tree 

 trunks and many other objects not supporting any forms of 

 life at all. Lastly, in Brachynus, which genus also shares this 

 cell building habit, we have parasitic larvae, the hosts of which 

 are often quite removed from the twigs, stems and stones on 



