NORTH AMERICAN GEOTRUPINAE — HOWDEN 251 



The adults are present much of the ye&T, being most numerous in the 

 fall. Nidification occurs from the end of July (in the mountains) 

 through November (in Florida) depending on the locality. It would 

 seem that the egg or larva overwinters, emerging as an adult in the 

 following summer in July and August. At that time the freshly 

 emerged adults were found at Mills River, N. C, feeding on fungi. 

 In the mountains and in northern states the newly emerged adults 

 probably overwinter and begin egg laying in July of the next year. 

 In the case of the Interlachen, Fla., specimens, they could possibly 

 have either a 1-year or 2-year cycle, as activity certainly was not 

 greatly impaired by any cold weather. 



Description of larva of Geotrupes egeriei was based on the following 

 material: One third-stage larva and second instar exuvia reared from 

 egg collected with female at Mills River, N. C, July 30, 1951, H. 

 Howden; one third-stage larva reared from egg collected with female 

 at Interlachen, Fla., Nov. 17, 1951, H. Howden and B. Dozier. 



Maximum width of head capsule 4.0 to 4.2 mm. Frons (pi. 7, 

 fig. 8) on each side with 1 or 2 posterior frontal setae, 3 or 4 setae on 

 each anterior angle, 1 or 2 exterior frontal setae, and 2 or 3 anterior 

 frontal setae. Antenna 3-segmented, the last segment reduced in 

 diameter and about three-fifths as long as the second segment (pi. 7, 

 fig. 5) which distally bears a small conical sense organ. Mandibles 

 (pi. 7, figs. 11, 12) similar to those of blackburnii. Maxilla (pi. 8, 

 fig. 6) with stridulating area bearing a row of 5 to 7 small conical 

 teeth on the stipes and 2 or 3 teeth on the posterior margin of the 

 palpifer. Hypopharjmx (pi. 8, fig. 6) with two asymmetrical oncyli. 

 In front of the hypopharyngeal oncyli, on each side, is a row of 12 to 

 14 small sensilla almost united medially, bending anteriorly with a 

 short line of 3 or 4 sensilla on each side. These two parallel forward 

 extensions of sensilla have several small setae irregularly placed be- 

 tween them. Glossa slightly emarginate. Epipharynx (pi. 8, fig. 4) 

 with thin tormae united mesally. Anterior and posterior epitormae 

 present, their tips obscured by fine dense setae. Setae at tip of 

 posterior epitormae rather V-shaped in outline. Phobae surrounding 

 the pedium, which is mostly spiculate. Medially along the anterior 

 edge of the phobae is a row of from 3 to 6 sensilla, and anteriorly, well 

 separated from either the phobae or the irregular row of 9 to 12 setae, 

 is a single isolated sensillum, slightly left of the midline. 



Body shape (pi. 11, fig. 2) similar to that of blackburnii, as is the 

 setal pattern. Dorsal annulets of abdominal segments 6 to 8 inclusive 

 each with a transverse patch of long setae, as in blackburnii. Anal 

 lobes (pi. 7, fig. 17) with endoskeletal figure slightly different from 

 blackburnii. Stridulating organs on the reduced metathoracic legs 

 consisting of a row of 7 or 8 teeth on the inner surface of the fused 



