158 C OLE OPT ERA. 



is a long, narrow insect with the prothorax rounded and 

 freely movable. It does not look very unlike other 

 beetles, but its development is remarkable. Accord- 

 ing to Riley it lays its eggs (PI. VII., Fig. 97) in the 

 ground, usually near the egg-pods of locusts. In about 

 ten days the larva, known as the triungulin (PI. VII., 

 Fig. 98), hatches, and is at first weak and colorless, 

 but soon becomes light brown in color and very ac- 

 tive. The head (PI. VII., Fig. 99) is provided with 

 antennae {at), mandibles (^md), and palpi (.r', .r"). 

 The legs (PI. VII., Fig. 100) are long and well armed 

 with spines. This larva burrows through the mucous 

 neck of a locust's egg-pod (PI. VII., Fig. loi ; Iv, the 

 larva), and sucks out the contents of one of the eggs. 

 In time the skin splits along the back, and the second 

 larva (PI. VIL, Fig. 102) appears with the legs much 

 reduced in size. PL VII., Fig. 103, is the antenna; 

 Fig. 104, the maxilla; and Fig. 105, the leg. The dif- 

 ference between this leg and that of the first larva 

 (Fig. 100) is striking. PL VIL, Fig. 106, is a side 

 view of the larva, showing its natural position within 

 the egg-pod. The last stage of the second larva is 

 represented in PI. VIL, Fig. 107. It now leaves the 

 pod and forms a cavity in the earth, in which it lies 

 motionless, and is known as the coarctate larva or 

 pseudo-pupa (PI. VIL, Fig. 108, with the skin adher- 

 ing behind; Fig. 109, dorsal view of the same; Fig. 

 no, head, from the front). The legs (PI. VIL, Fig. 

 in) in this stage are little more than tubercles. The 

 insect usually hibernates in this condition. In spring 

 the third larv^a appears, which is very similar to the 

 coarctate state of the second larva. It is somewhat 



