92 Psyche [June 



NOTES ON THE PUFFBALL BEETLE, CMNOCARA 

 OCULATA (SAY) 



By Harry B. Weiss, New Brunswick, N.J. 



This member of the family Aiwbiiike was descrilied by Say 

 in 1824 (App. vol. II, Keating's Exp. to source of St. Peters 

 Riv. under Maj. Long, Phila., 1824, p. 273) and has long been 

 known to collectors as being associated with the fungi commonly 

 called puffballs. Blatchley (Col. Ind., 1910, p. 884) records it 

 from Indiana as occurring throughout the state on low vegetation 

 in damp localities and also in small puff balls (Lycoperdon). 

 Smith (Ins. N. J., p. 307) records it as common throughout the 

 state but does not mention any host. 



For the past two years it has been noted at Monmouth 

 Junction, N. J., breeding in a species of puffball known as 

 Scleroderma vulgare and undoubtedly occurs in many localities 

 where its host grows. Leng (Check List Col. Amer. N. of Mex. 

 p. 244) indicates its wide distribution by the following locaHties — 

 Ct., Fla., New Eng., Ariz., Ind. 



Fungi ])elonging to the genus Lycoperdon are small puffballs 

 with somewhat thickened bases or stalks. When young the 

 interior is soft, white and firm; later it becomes yellowish and 

 finally forms a purplish brown, dusty mass consisting of spores 

 and threadlike filaments. Species of this genus appear in the 

 summer and autumn and are common on the ground or on old 

 stumps, usually in clusters. In the genus Scleroderma, the 

 plants are sessile or nearly so. The peridium is thick and leathery 

 and sometimes becomes cracked and ruptured at the apex. 

 Scleroderma vulgare in which Ccenocara oculata was found breeding 

 is about 5 cm., in diameter, subglobular, with a thick, yellowish 

 or pale brown scaly or warty, leathery peridium. The spore mass 

 is purplish black. This species is quite common and occurs in 

 dry places and on hard ground. At Monmouth Junction, N. J., 

 the fructifications were found in the dry parts of a large wooded 

 area. 



