410 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. IV, 



According to Folsom the average for the first larval stage is 

 about 9 days; and the others very variable. Larvae reared by 

 me in 1910-11 passed the first stage in 8-9 days, the second in 

 10-12, third in 15-16 and spun their cocoons 12-16 days later. 

 The cocoon spinning occupies one or two days, 



Pupa? are apparently formed about two days after the 

 cocoon is finished. The pupal period (Folsom) is from 10 to 

 20 days. Beetles appear in Illinois as early as May 9 and as 

 late as July 15. The period of greatest emergence being "the 

 last week in June." 



Copulation does not occur for several weeks or even more 

 than a month after their appearance. Meanwhile they spend 

 their time hidden during the day and coming out at night to 

 feed. Both beetles and larvae usually feed during the night. 



The largest number of eggs reported by Folsom was 40. 

 Taking advantage of their propensity for continued mating I 

 have supplied a female with fresh males and fresh food-plant 

 after each egg-laying period; this combined with a warm room 

 seemed to act as a stimulant and I received 68 eggs. Dissection 

 later showed many undeveloped eggs in the ovaries. 



Folsom gives as foodplants "all kinds of clovers and alfalfa 

 as well." In central Illinois red clover is most heavily 

 infested, alfalfa second and white clover third. Webster found 

 that one year in Ohio the white clover was most seriously 

 injured. Lintner reports the larvae and adults feeding on 

 beans, the latter especially on the pods. 



Kleine gives as the food-plants in Europe: Medicago sativa, 

 Trifolium pratense and T. incarnatum and Helianthus tuberosus. 



Enemies: Riley reported Collops quadrimaculatus in the 

 larval stage feeding on the eggs, and Cicindela re panda prob- 

 ably preying upon the larvae. Webster notes that larvae are 

 eaten by birds and that turkeys (especially), and chickens are 

 very fond of them. In Europe Torka in 1907 reported, evi- 

 dently quoting from Eckstein, finding the species in the stomach 

 of Botanrus stellar ia. 



The worst enemy of the insect is undoubtedly a fungus 

 disease which attacks the larvae under favorable conditions 

 sweeping them off in great numbers. This disease was first 

 noted by Arthur in New York in 1885 and has since appeared 

 wherever the Phytonomus has been distributed throughout 

 the eastern and central states. Folsom states that it requires 



