ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF SOWBTT4S. 19 



ground uihIit tlie honcvsuckle. On July <>, at 7.^50 p. ni.. the sowbugs 

 Avore just connnencing to rlinib the various plants, and none were 

 feeding as yet. On the honeysuckle 19 were seen at various heights 

 up to 3 feet, and all hut two on the stems and moving npwai^L 



The foHowing definite proofs of the scavenger habits of this sow- 

 bug were obtained: ^Nlay IT a dead rat near the house was found 

 covered with a great number of sowbugs and almost entii'ely eaten, 

 even the skin being eaten in j^laces. At another time several sowbugs 

 were discovered diligently cleaning a peach pit. 



Concerning the haunts of these animals the following observations 

 were made: In April and May there was considerable moisture, and 

 under every shaded, moist board, cinder, and clod, and under straw, 

 refuse, garbage, and carrion, one could easily find many adult sow- 

 bugs and multitudes of young. In the cotton patch, at the base of 

 each plant, the ground became cracked, and heix' sheltei'ed great num- 

 bers of sowbugs, which very likely did injury to the roots. May 17, 

 under the trees and in shady places, the sowbugs were so plentiful 

 that at every step numbers were crushed. July 3, at 8 p. m., sowbugs 

 to the number of 14 were found on an oalc tree, the highest b(ung 5 or 

 t) feet above the ground. July "iC), in the late afternoon and early even- 

 ing, some five dozen sowbugs were found in cracks and holes on three 

 trees, many of them as high as could be seen. 



Regarding the effect of natural and field conditions upon these 

 crustaceans certain notes were made. Susceptibility to varying 

 weather conditions was very noticeable. May 25, at 7.30 a. m., 

 a large nuinl)er of sowbugs had gathered at baits. At 8 o'clock a 

 sudden storm connnenced to rise. The soAvbugs seemed innnediately 

 conscious of danger and hastened in all directions for the highest 

 shelter possible, gaining ])rotection on the fence and beneath tin; 

 clapboards of the house. All Avere out of sight Avhen the first (Iroi)s 

 of Avater fell. In Ai)ril and ^lay there Avas considerable rain, and 

 during the periods of sunshine, at Avhatever time of day, the sow- 

 bugs Avere to be seen eA'ervAvhere. crawling oAer the sidcAvalks and 

 paA'ements. April 23 and 2-1 the ground Avas drenched Avith Avater, 

 and on the 25111 dead soAvbugs Avere to l)e found cA-ervAvhere on the 

 ground and on the sideAvalks. On June 3 a similar observation Avas 

 made in a spot Avhere the Avater had stood for several days. By 

 June 15 the intense heat had driven the soAvbugs from the open so 

 that feAV could be found in unprotected places. 



The Avriter's notes upon the biology of the isoi)ods are based on 

 observations of about a thousand individuals in the large series of 

 experiments that has been already referred to. 



Copulation Avas frequently noted out of doors during April and 

 May. The males may be distinguished from the females by their 

 colors as Avell as by the specific sexual characters. They are a 



