NORTH AMERICAN GEOTRUPINAE — HOWDEN 269 



Five of the cells found on June 27 contained eggs, three cells con- 

 tained first instars, two cells contained second instars, and one cell 

 contained a small third instar. Several of the larvae were preserved; 

 others were kept alive in salve boxes. 



The remainder of the cage was dug up on Aug. 8, 1951. At this 

 time all of the cells found (a total|of 14) contained third-stage larvae. 

 These were at depths ranging from 4^ to 7 inches. Again all of the 

 cells were composed of bits of leaves. Cow dung, while available, was 

 not used in a single instance. 



Previously, on Apr. 23, 1951, several hundred yards from the cage a 

 burrow was found which yielded a tightly packed wad of leaves at a 

 depth of 3)2 inches. An egg contained in the wad was reared, became 

 a third instar on July 5, and a pupa on September 6. The adult which 

 emerged on September 20 proved to be a specimen of splendidus. 



A second burrow, containing a second instar in a tightly packed cell 

 of leaves, was found in the same area on May 7, 1951. This larva, 

 which also proved to be splendidus, became a third instar on May 26, 

 a pupa on August 20, and an adult on August 28. 



From information gained from reared larvae, both from the cage 

 and from unknowns, the life history of splendidus in North Carolina 

 can be summarized as follows : 



Newly emerged adults feed largely on fungi during September and 

 October. Mating occurs at this time in burrows probably made by the 

 males. The adults pass the winter in these burrows, emerging in 

 April. Oviposition lasts from April through June. In late June all 

 stages of the larvae can be found, but, because of the rapid develop- 

 ment of the early stages (11 to 17 days for the first instar, and 15 to 25 

 days for the second), by August all of the larvae are third instar. 

 Pupation occurs from late August until mid-September. The newly 

 transformed adults begin to emerge in early September, completing a 

 life cycle of one year. 



Description of the immature stages of Geotrupes splendidus was 

 based on the following material collected at Kaleigh, N. C: One egg, 

 Apr. 21, 1951, H. Howden; two first-stage larvae, June 27, 1951, H. 

 Howden; two second-stage larvae, June 29, 1951, H. Howden; 11 

 third-stage larvae in cage, Aug. 8, 1951, H. Howden and P. O. Ritcher; 

 one prepupa, Sept. 12, 1951, H. Howden and P. O. Ritcher; 7 third- 

 stage larval skins associated with pupae and adults reared from 

 larvae. 



Third-stage larvae of Geotrupes splendidus differ from Ritcher's 

 (1947, pp. 6, 7) description of G. blackburnii (excrementi) in the follow- 

 ing respects. 



Maximum width of head capsule 4.0 to 4.5 mm. Frons (pi. 7, fig. 9) 

 on each side usually with 1 posterior frontal seta, 2 setae in each 



