Gi 
leaves, carefully, however, as many as fifteen or twenty ‘‘ grubs” were 
sometimes found ona single leaf. 
April 24 I collected a large number, which were placed in a jar in 
order that their development might be more closely watched. Most of 
these were ‘still very small, only from 3 to 4™™ in length. When very 
young they merely gnaw the under surface of the leaf, noticeable on the 
upper side as small discolored spots, but as they increase in size they 
eat entirely through both cuticles, making large roundish perforations. 
It is probable that there are but three larval molts, as, in the case of 
even the smallest larvee under observation, I was able to note but two, 
and infer that one had been passed before they were brought in. 
The larger larvie entered the ground the 4th, 5th, and 6th of May, 
penetrating to a depth of only from one-fourth to one-half an inch and 
inclosing themselves in frail, nearly spherical, cocoons or cells of earth 
cemented with a viscid secretion. Larvie, however, were found on 
the spinach throughout the month of May. 
May 25 one of the beetles emerged, which proved to be Disonycha 
collaris Fabr.; and from this time until after the middle of June bred 
specimens continued to come out. 
A package of specimens was sent to the Department in case it should 
be considered desirable to have drawings made of the different stages 
of development. Unfortunately this consignment did not reach Wash- 
ington, and I did not learn of the failure until too late to replace it. 
Specimens were, however, preserved in alcohol, which retain all the 
important characters. ; 
No account of the immature stages of the insect or of its spinach- 
feeding propensity is to be found in any work on economic entomology 
to which I have access, and I think it has not heretofore been recog- 
nized among the pests of the vegetable garden. I therefore subjoin 
the following descriptions. 
Egg, not observed. 
Mature larva, trom which the young differ only in size, 9™™ in length, 3 to 4™™ in 
diameter; form subcylindrical, tapering slightly each way from middle segments, 
which, both in resting and crawling, appears somewhat elevated or “hunched up.” 
Color a dirty, rather livid white, with a shiny, slightly viscid surface, each segment 
produced with ten conical papille—lateral ones largest—each of which terminates 
in a minute bristle. Head about one-half the diameter of the thoracic segments, 
oblique, circular, corneous, fulvous, paler in front, with dark brown mouthparts and © 
two dark brown, somewhat elevated, spots on each side. The posterior end of the 
body terminates in a dark brown, corneous wing, most pronounced on the dorsal side, 
fringed with bristles. Thisis always appressed to the leaf, and in moving the bris- 
tles assist in propulsion. Legs concolorous with general surface, but with fulvous 
or dingy brown annulations, the terminal joint being entirely of the dark color. 
Pupa, 8™™ in length, 3 in diameter across dorsum, with elytra and wings partly 
extended as in other pupe of Halticinw ; the legs drawn up and folded close against 
the body. Color pearly white in all its parts, acquiring a translucent gray tinge 
before the last transformation. 
Beetle quite pale at first, gradually acquiring the dark metallic green of the elytra, 
buff thorax, dark legs and under surface and other colorational characteristics of the 
mature insect, 
