78 SOME INSECTS INJURIOUS TO TRUCK CROPS. 
a rearing jar and one made its cell February 11, pupated on February 
16, and the adult developed February 27. Adults continued to issue 
until March 5. 
The beetles were abundant at Brownsville, Tex., February 6, on 
string beans which they nearly defoliated. February 11, a half- 
grown larva was found feeding at the base of a string bean plant. 
Adults were observed feeding on tender fig leaves at Santa Maria, 
Tex., February 24. 
March 5 about twenty eggs were found at the base of string bean 
plants. The female beetles had evidently gone down in cracks in the 
earth as far as possible and oviposited in the loose soil from 1 inch 
to 24 inches below the surface and from 4 inch to 2 inches from the 
plant. The eggs were placed singly as a rule, but a few were in 
clusters of from two to five. No larve were observed at this date. 
The beetles were fairly common and some pairs were mating. 
Eggs were found about young sweet corn March 15, placed in the 
loose soil at the base of the plants, singly and in clusters of four or 
five. Twenty eggs were found about one small plant. 
The beetles were reported seriously injuring young pepper and 
okra at Mercedes, Tex., April 15. 
They were numerous on lima beans a week later, attacking chiefly 
the large first leaves and cutting large holes in them. It appears that 
they return repeatedly to the same leaf and eat a large area at one 
place. April 26 a nearly mature larva was found feeding on the 
roots of sweet corn. 
During May the beetles were present in moderate numbers. On the 
10th some were observed feeding on buds of tomato and on squash 
foliage. Females, with abdomens distended with eggs, were present, 
and one or two of these which were placed in confinement deposited 
eggs on the 12th. 
May 27 the adults were fairly common on alfalfa, cotton, tomatoes, 
and English broad beans. 
NOTES ON LIFE HISTORY. 
Beginning with March 1 an effort was made to work out the life 
history of this species. The record for a generation at this time 
follows: 
Life-history record of a single adult female of Diabrotica balteata confined March 1, 1909. 
Marchal: sees eee ene Female confined in rearing jar. 
March ‘3.2. Sei eae 37 eggs deposited. 
Marchol2. 25105. Se eee 37 eggs hatched. 
FATT 3.22 So oseen Se ee First larvee made cells. 
J3\\ 0) 3 PY aera ere eae First larvee pupated. 
23\ 70) Ea I SS are RE cig First adults developed. 
JA Soy art N74 0) 2 ae ea First adults issued from cells. 
POR pole se esol te Yee Last of adults issued, of which 24 developed. 
