149 



DkSCKII'TION. 



The c«if^ has been described by Chittenden* as "elliptical, 

 nearly two and a half times as lonj>- as wide, not perceptibly flat- 

 tened at any point, just perceptibly narrower and less rounded 

 usually at one end than at the other, and stramineous in color. 

 The surface is perfectly smooth, without visible sculpture and 

 moderately shining. Ivcnfrth, O.S .54 mm.; width, 0.21 — 0.23 

 mm. " 



The larva is 3 4 mm. long- by half as wide, white except the 

 head and first set^^ment, which are usually pale yellowish brown 

 The first segment is of firmer consistency than the others, leathery 

 and sm.ooth above, and as long- as the two following- tog-ether. The 

 head is smooth somewhat llattened in front, with a few slender scat- 

 tered hairs. The mandibles are curved and rather narrow, the width 

 being- about two thirds the length. They are broad and blunt at the 

 tip, where they are more or less clearly notched, sometimes with 

 one notch and sometimes with two. The under side of the body is 

 transversely ridg-cd, one ridge to each segment, and at each end of 

 each ridge are two prominent tubercles, forming lateral rows, 

 bearing- strong- spine-like hairs. (Fig. -^2.) 



The pup;i' are 3.5 mm. long- by 2.5 mm. wide, white except the 

 eyes and mandibles, which show red and black respectively when 

 the pupil' are matured. The last segment terminates in two simple 

 hooks, the points of which curve towards each other, and in front 

 of these hooks are two pairs of lateral spines, the first of which 

 project directly outwards. 



Conclusion. 



It is possible that this beetle may become g-enerally and con- 

 tinuously destructive to corn, althoug-h its serious injuries so far 

 as known at present have been limited to a sing-le neighborhood in 

 western Illinois. The wide variety of plants to which the beetle 

 may resort for food and the general distribution and abundance of 

 some of these, the abundance also of its larval food in the roots of 

 timothy g-rass and corn, and the absence, so far as known, of any 

 unusual checks on the multiplication of the species, are all condi- 

 tions favorable to its maintenance in greatly increased numbers. 

 In the present imperfect state of our knowledg-e of its habits, of its 

 food preferences, and of its life history, it is impossible to discuss 

 satisfactorily the subject of preventive or remedial measures. 



*Bull. IJ. S. l)iv. I'".iit., n. s., No. q, y). 2i. 



