46 The Cane Grubs of Australia. 
cocoons were always found within an inch or two of the bottom of the 
eage. We have no records of pupe found in the fields. 
DURATION OF PERIOD OF PUPATION. 
Pup have been obtained in confinement, on the following dates :— 
October 10, 27, 31; November 4, 6, 15; December 5. 
But the stage evidently commences early, earler than the earliest 
recorded date, as reared beetles have been obtained as early as October 
23; thus, giving a month for the length of the pupal stage, we have had 
pupx as early as September 23. 
THE ADULT. 
EMERGENCE, LENGTH OF LIFE AFTER EMERGENCE. 
In 1912-13 season, adults were first noted on December 12, thence 
right through January to middle of February. In season 1913-14, they 
were first observed on December 22, but none were seen after the end 
of January. On February 7 five adults were brought in from the forest 
and kept in captivity; the first died on February 12, the last on February 
21. A single adult was found emerged on the surface of a cage, June 18, 
but this was only an isolated case. 
BEHAVIOUR OF REARED ADULTS. 
As in Lepidiota albohirta and probably most other scarabeids, the 
adults of this species remain for many days in the earth before 
emergence. They do not even break the cocoon walls, but linger in a 
semi-dormant stage inside the cocoons. Thus six beetles found in cocoons 
on October 23 were still unemerged by November 11. From the actual 
transformation from the pupa to the adult, till its death, several months 
may elapse. Thus an adult reared on December 7 lived until February 3; 
a second reared on November 20 did not die until January 23. These 
reared beetles do not always reach a normal state of activity, though 
such is usually the case. For example, a pair of beetles reared about 
December 6 became actively alive by December 22. They were kept in 
a damp earth, without food, but mated, and the first eggs were obtained 
by December 29, the last on January 6; the female died on January 19, 
the male on January 31. Several similar instances were recorded, plainly 
showing that this species will mate and propagate without ever flying or 
without having had food; also that the female may live as long as two 
weeks after having finished egg-laying. This species, therefore, forms 
a striking contrast to Lepidiota albohirta, no reared adults of which 
reached a normally active state or went through the process of repro- 
duction. Adults of this or a close ally were observed on flowers of the 
‘*fir-tree,’’ growing in the bed of Cape River at: Pentland, N.Q., in 
September. 
DURATION OF EGG-LAYING PERIOD OF REARED ADULTS. 
The egg-laying period of a reared adult may last for several days. 
The following table plainly establishes this facet :— 
Number of 
Reared Females. 
First Eggs Obtained. Last Eggs Obtained. cheer ; 
| Days. 
i se -.- | December 29 a - | January 6 50 ac 8 
oars + | December 26 ..| January 2 ee ad 7 
3 | January 7 ene .. | January 14 360 3 7 
4 ae .. | January 13 aie .. | January 19 A 30 6 
