LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 33 



])i-eference to the dry, warmer ones. The hal)it of feigning death, 

 so marked in the spring when tliey a])pear, is totally lacking at this 

 time, and about the only way to make them move is to touch them. 

 When they are dug up from their pupal cells, or from the ground 

 in which they have ])een hiding, they become active in a short time, 

 look for another hiding place, and as soon as they find it draw in 

 their legs and antennae and resume hibernation. They are very 

 sluggish, move slowly, and do not attempt flight. 



APPEARANCE OF BEETLES IN THE SPRING. 



In the early spring, during a period which covers two months, 

 the beetles dig out of their cells, appear at the surface of the ground, 

 and become partially active. That the time of this ''emergence" 

 is governed by several factors is strongly suggested by the diversity 

 in the time of appearance. The average mean temperature is prob- 

 ably the main factor, but such causes as the kind and ])orosity of 

 the soil in which they have pupated, and the rains, certainly help in 

 determining the time of their appearance. This latter point was sug- 

 gested by the fact that beetles were always more abundant in the 

 fields following a rain than they were directly ])receding it. This 

 mighi be explained by the fact that their cells became too wet and 

 they had to dig out for safety. 



Just after their appearance in the spring the beetles are very 

 sluggisli and collect under rubbish of all kinds in the field. They 

 still appear to be in a state of semihibernation and none are ever 

 noted sunning themselves, feeding, or mo\ing about. When their 

 shelters are removed they are found in the same position they main- 

 tain during hibernation, with their legs and antennae folded closely 

 against theu" bodies. When the sunlight strikes them they slowly 

 become active and search for another hiding place. In every respect 

 then* condition at this time resembles liibernation, except that they 

 more quickly become active. To distinguish between this condi- 

 tion and their true hibernation in the soil, the former for want of a 

 better word was called "secondary hibernation." This period lasted 

 from about the middle of February, or a little earlier, tiU the middle 

 of March. It is little more than a transition period between their 

 hibernation and their period of activity. During this time the 

 weather was quite cold, with cloudiness and showers at intervals. 



BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD OF ACTIVITY. 



The beetles are so slow to show signs of activity and so sluggish 



during the earlier part of their active period that no hard and fast 



line can be drawn between the latter and their so-caUed secondary 



hibernation. Furthermore, under every beet active and inactive 



G140°— Bull. 123—14 3 



