Early Stages of Coleoptera. 337 



iSIetathorax similar to mesothorax. There are no bristles 

 of any size on any of the thoracic rings so far as I can discover. 



Abdomen very long, the segments i to 8 approximately 

 equal in length. Each of these bears, near the posterior angle, 

 a long white tilament or process, which, when the larva is 

 curled in its cell is applied close to the body. In the water 

 thev presumably move about quite freely. The ninth seg- 

 ment is smaller and bears a pair of these appendages on each 

 side; between and inferior to these appendages is borne a 

 small additional segment which in turn is surmounted by a 

 smaller one, armed at tip with four long curved hooks. 



Spiracles cannot be found. It is quite possible that true 

 stigmata do not exist and that the filaments form the only 

 external respiratory organs. This is rendered more likely 

 from the fact that each filament is again covered by much 

 smaller ones visible only under high powers of the microscope. 



Legs with prominent conical coxce, femora a trifle shorter, 

 tibiae about half the length of the femora, tarsal pieces a little 

 longer and bearing two nearly straight equal claws. The 

 coxfe are slightly bristled, the other joints have all strong 

 spines on the outer edge. 



The pupa is S mm. in length, yellowish in color and the 

 eyes are nearly black. The abdomen and nearly the entire 

 dorsal surface are brown. It is much more quiescent than 

 usual with the coleopterous larvae, and I have never seen 

 more than the faintest perceptible movement of the abdomen. 

 It is preyed upon in its cell by two different parasites — one 

 the larva of the Brachimis before described and the other a 

 minute Hymenopterous insect of the family Chalcididas. A 

 specimen which was about to disclose the perfect insect in- 

 creased in lencrth and the limbs became more free. 



Several specimens of larvae and pupse were found in their 

 cells or "cocoons" along the bank of the Wapsipinicon River 

 near Independence, Iowa, during the last of August and 

 beginning of September. The larvae, on coming out of the 

 water, repair to the under surface of a stone or a board, close 



