The Cane Grubs of Australia. 15 



The Pupa. 



In confinement the first pupa was noticed on December 3rd, and the 

 nmiainder throughout that month. In four records kept, the duration of 

 the pupal stage was from 27-30 days. 



The Adult. 



Mr. A. M. Lea of the South Australian Museum, to whom specimens 

 were sent for determination, states, in letter 26 iv. 15 — "These agree 

 closely with our co-type of Lepidiota rothci and are certainly that species. 

 Tlje four specimens of No. 215 differ from the four specimens of rotJiei 

 sent, in being larger, more shining, abdomen more rotund and more 

 sparsely clothed, and in the deeper notch to the clypeus, but these are all 

 possibly sexual differences. "Without being absolutely certain as to the 

 mating of the sexes of both forms, it would be inadvisable to describe 

 No. 215 (C. 137) as a new species, or even as a variety." There is not 

 the slightest doubt that the species are distinct, the larva, pupa, and 

 adult all showing w^ell-marked differences, and moreover the life cycle of 

 this species is two years, of rothci one year. 



The first adult emerged from the pupa on January 1st, thence 

 throughout that month, the last being reared on January 24th. 



In 1915, the first emergence occurred on January 25th, after heavy 

 rain, thousands of beetles swarming over a grass plot in the township, in 

 company with frcnchi, and this continued for several nights, numbers of 

 mated pairs being found clinging to leaves of shrubs at a height varying 

 from 4-10 feet; general swarming ceased by February 1st, but a few 

 mated pairs were obtained until February 14th. On the first night of 

 the emergence many were attracted to artificial lights,* but none were 

 present on the subsequent nights of the swarming. In the 1915-6 season, 

 no large emergence was observed ; a few flying on January 21st being the 

 only record. 



This species is thus the last of the Lepidiotas to emerge. 



LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 45. 



The Larva. 



A Stage II. larvcP was found by digging in a garden, Kuranda, lOtli 

 July, 1915 ; it had moulted to Stage III. by S\\\j 20th. Ploughing in a 

 yellow clay loam canefield, Harvey's Creek, 13th September, 1915, pro- 

 duced a Stage II. and a Stage III. larva. Digging caneholes, six inches 

 deep, in recently cleared jungle land, yellow clay loam, October 12th, 

 1914, resulted in the finding of another Stage III. larva. 



Thus it is evident that the species frequents the jungle lands. 



LEPIDIOTA FROGGATTI Macleay. 



Two adults caught at lights in a dwelling on a cane-farm, jungle, 

 Hai-vey's Creek, 12th December, 1914. 



LEPIDIOTA Sp. No. 615. 



Three larva?, probably in Stage III., found by digging in almost pure 

 sand, bed of ]\Iulgrave River, 27th August, 1915. The larvas were not 

 bred to maturity. 



