19 
and hairy, the thoracic segments with a regular geometrical pattern of 
longitudinal depressed lines. It is also distinguished by its pecuhar form, 
which narrows noticeably from behind fry the head being very Srna: 
4 In the only case in which it was found infesting growing corn 
(Champaign, May 17, 1886)* the larva had partly panieae itself in the 
kernel beside the sprout. This and others of the species found among 
the roots were bred to the beetle stage on sprouting corn, pupating May 
26 to June 7 and emerging as adults on the 17th of June. The great 
abundance of this insect in the beetle stage—so common as often to 
keep the leaves of the cocklebur peppered with small holes where these 
beetles have fed—makes even so slight a hint of its capacity for mis- 
chief both interesting and important. The adult insect also feeds on 
corn, as reported by Glovert on the authority of a correspondent, ac- 
cording to whom these beetles nearly destroyed a field of corn at Cham- 
bersburg, Pa., eating the leaves and leaving the bare stalks standing. 
The edges of the leaves may be gnawed away, sometimes nothing but the 
midrib “being left, or the leaf may be riddled with small holes. 
- The agricultural injuries of the beetle are not confined to the corn 
, plant, however, but it has been found by various entomologists to feed 
R on beans, potatoes, beets, clover, strawberry and blackberry leaves, and 
the muskmelon, among useful plants; and also on purslane, cockle- 
bur, plantain, ragweed (Ambrosia), pigweed (Amarantus) and lamb’s- 
; 
3 quarters (Chenopodium). 
4 Adults of this species have been taken by us at frequent intervals 
3 from April 8 to September 2, much the most abundantly in June and 
3 July. Our substantial knowledge of its life history depends, however, 
a on the single breeding exper iment already mentioned. Four larvee were 
collected May AL 1886, and placed at once in breeding cages with 
sprouting corn. May 26 a pupa was found lying on the “earth in the 
cage. June 7 another pupa was noticed yet in the earth, and on the 
17th of June three adults had emerged, and one pupa about mature 
was taken from the cage. 
Description. Larva. (Plate IV., Fig. 1 and 2.)—Length 5 mm., 
greatest width about .6 mm. Slender, widening gradually to the 11th 
segment, thence tapering quite rapidly. General color pale yellow or 
brownish yellow, paler towards the posterior end. Head _ yellowish 
brown, with numerous stiff hairs; jaws darker brown. Antenne three- 
| jointed, pale, short, and thick. The thorax and abdomen are darkest on 
_ the dorsum, fading to paler on the margins and ventral surface, and the 
latter very pale yellowish at the end. The first thoracic segment has 
two longitudinal curved impressed lines on the dorsum ; segments two 
and three have longitudinal impressed lines on each side near the border, 
4 between which is a transverse curved line crossing each segment near 
its anterior margin, from which two oblique straight lines extend to the 
posterior margins of the segments. The legs have stout, blunt, spine-like 
processes on their anterior ‘surfaces, and stiff hairs on the posterior. The 
abdominal segments are transversely wrinkled on both anterior and pos- 
terior margins. The skin is shagreened, and the whole body is sup- 
* “Canadian Entomologist,’ 1886, Vol. 18, p. 177; “Entomogica Americana,” 
Dec., 1886, Vol. II., p. 174. 
7 Rep. Com. Agr., 1873, p. 152. 
