1922] Notes on the Puffball Beetle. 93 



On September 5, several adults of Ca'nocara oculaia were 

 noted with their bodies projecting slightly from small circular 

 holes in the walls of the fungi. Upon cutting such fungi open, 

 they were found to contain, in addition to the blackish, powdery 

 mass of spores, numerous full grown larvse some of which had 

 constructed pupal chambers or cells. One puffball contained 

 fully 100 larvae. Many of the larvse pupated by September 9 

 and on September 22 fully colored adults were found in the 

 cells. 



When full grown each larva constructs an oval cell in the 

 spore mass. These are about 4 mm., long and 2 mm., wide and 

 many are attached to the inner side of the peridial wall. Pupation 

 takes place in these cells and when the adult is ready to emerge 

 it simply eats through the wall of the fungus. Upon examining 

 these exit holes it will be found that they are shallow and extend 

 in only to the depth of the pupal cell. The larvae undoubtedly 

 do most if not all of their feeding in the fungus when it is young 

 as at this time, the interior is solid and fleshy. When ripe, the 

 spore mass is dry and powdery. 



Larvce. Length about 4 mm. Width about 1.5 mm. Form 

 subcylindrical, tapering toward head, posterior end rounded, 

 somewhat white grub-like in appearance. Body curved, almost 

 semicircular in outline. White, except for brownish mouth parts. 

 Head small, subcircular, bearing minute hairs; collum absent; 

 antennae single jointed, minute, almost obsolete; ocelli absent; 

 cranial sutures indistinct; gula membraneous; ventral mouth 

 parts fleshy. Clypeus and labrum distinct, former transverse, 

 latter small, semicircular bearing several minute hairs on anterior 

 edge. Mandibles comparatively large, heavy, broad across 

 base, narrowing toward tip which is strongly bifid. Lacinia and 

 galea distinct, well separated, each bearing chitinous hairs; 

 maxillary palpi two-jointed, second joint tapering and twice as 

 long as the first; labium with mentum and submentum indis- 

 tinct; labial palpi two-jointed. Body segmentation indistinct; 

 body bearing numerous minute hairs and irregular transverse 

 rows of larger hairs on raised dorsal folds of thoracic and ab- 



