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smooth and shining; the prothorax with a distinct lateral margin. 
The tibiz are suleate, the antenne thickened toward the end, and 
the middle and hind tibize toothed toward the tip. 
Paria aterrima is oblong, short, varying from yellowish red to 
black, the legs being, however, always pale. In the lighter speci- 
mens, the ventral segments and three spots on each elytron are black. 
The head (Plate VILI, Fig. 2) is coarsely punctate, the sides of the 
thorax are slightly rounded, and rather sparsely punctate. The 
elytra are deeply punctate-striate, with smooth intervals, the striz 
being obsolete before the apex. 
Paria sexnotata is said to be distinguished by the much more 
punctate head, and by the less punctate, minutely alutaceous thorax. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
These forms occur throughout the whole country, from the Atlantic 
region to California, and from Massachusetts and Michigan to the 
Southern States. They are abundant on the juniper (Juniperus 
communis), and on the wiid crab apple (Pyrus coronaria) as well as 
on the strawberry; and occur less commonly on a considerable 
variety of plants, both tame and wild. 
LIFE HISTORY. 
I have already said that the early stages of this insect (the larve 
especially) are almost indistinguishable from those of another species 
and genus, occurring in the ground with it, and attacking the straw- 
berry plant in precisely the same manner. When we take into 
account the further fact that this second root-worm belongs to a 
species whose early stages and life history have hitherto remained 
unknown, we see how inevitable it was that these two larve should 
have been confounded, and that some errors should have resulted 
from this confusion when the attempt was first made to clear up 
their life history. 
By the repeated breeding of larve taken at various times and 
places during the last year, and by numerous collections and field 
observations of these insects in all their stages, we are now placed 
in a position to elucidate the life histories of both Paria and 
Scelodonta. 
Last April the adult beetles were found not uncommonly in straw- 
berry fields at Centralia, Cobden and Villa Ridge, having evidently 
lately emerged from their winter quarters; but the most careful 
search of the fields infested by root-worms yielded no Paria larve, 
all being Scelodonta at that time. 
On the 18th of May, the adults were again obtained in consider- 
able numbers by sweeping the foliage of strawberries at Villa Ridge; 
and on the 15th of June, a few were seen in the ground, about the 
roots of the strawberries, by Mr. C. W. Butler, of Anna, probably 
engaged in oviposition. 
On the 20th of July, Mr. Garman found larve and pupe of this 
species among the strawberry roots at Cobden, and adults on the 
foliage; and on the 26th all stages were sent me from Lansing, 
