12 ^be Cane Grubs of Australia. 



October 3, November 17, December 4, January 10, February 1, March 0, 

 April 9, May 5, June 0, August 1, September-November 0, December 51 

 larvae ; the 51 larvi^* in December were from one field. Of these larvae 

 93 were from loam soils and 8 from volcanic, which would show that the 

 former kind of soil is preferred. 



The Pupa. 



A Stage III. larva confined on December 22nd, pupated on October 

 31st and emerged December 7th, giving the length of the pupal stage as 

 37 days. Another Stage III. larva confined on December 4th was 

 pupating on August 31st, and pupated on September 11th. 



The Adult. 



Mr. A. M. Lea. to whom specimens of frenchi and this species were 

 sent for determination, states, in letter, 26 iv. 15, "I cannot find any 

 specific distinctions between these specimens; those of No. 683 (C. 156) 

 appear to be simply large females, or possibly they belong to a large race 

 of the species." The larva and pupa both differ from frenchi; the adults 

 are certainly very similar, but No. 683 is distinctly larger, of a deeper 

 colour, the legs are of a deeper colour, and the posterior tarsi are shorter 

 in relation to their tibiae ; the species are no doubt diiferent. 



In confinement an adult emerged from the pupa on December 7th, 

 another on October 18th. A single beetle fiew to light on December 14th, 

 1914, and this is our sole record. Several were received from Mr. F, P. 

 Dodd, of Kuranda, who stated that they swarmed not unplentifully at 

 that place in December. 



LEPIDIOTA FRENCHI Blackburn. 

 The Larva. 



In 1915 the first Stage I. was found on February 3rd, in March 

 they were very abundant, in April only a few were observed, and the 

 la.st was noticed on ]\Iay 21st; in 1916 digging at base of cane-plants 

 yielded the first Stage I. on January 11th. The earliest Stage II. was 

 on March 10th, and by the end of the month the majority had 

 entered that Stage. In 1914 the first Stage II. entered Stage HI. on 

 October 29th; in 1915 the earliest was on September 26th, obviously a 

 very early record and possibly exceptional ; most of the larvae enter Stage 

 III. during the end of October and through November, a few remaining 

 until December, and even later; of four Stage II. found by digging at 

 base of cane-plants in red volcanic soil, 14th January, one entered 

 Stage III. by the end of the month, the others are still in Stage II. now 

 (February 7th) ; the soil in this field had been in a very dry condition 

 previously, and this may have retarded the growth and development of 

 the larva?. Breeding-cages containing Stage II. confined in May and 

 June when examined on November 1st showed mostly Stage III., a few 

 Stage II., in cells. It is a question whether the moulting would take 

 place in cells in the fields ; however, since very few lai-vie were present in 

 October, reappearing at the end of November and through December, it 

 would seem that they seek a greater depth and thus escape the plough. 

 Stage III. are very plentiful in December, January, and February, less 

 so in March and April, and by May and June are seldom encountered ; 

 as they are about full-grown by February, it is probable that they finish 



