MONTANA EXPERIMENT STATION. 137 



leaves were close to the earth. Many of tlie eggs in the pot experi- 

 ment were found to be in the burrows and in the little cavities used 

 by the beetles as retreats from the light. This habit of the bccth: 

 of scattering the eggs among the roots is perhaps nature's metho(i 

 of making sure that the verv small weak larvae shall not fail to se- 

 cure food, for it is very doubtful if the newly hatched young could 

 make their way through the soil to the roots. 



The habit of congregating in large numbers in darkened places is a 

 marked one with this beetle and large nimibers have often been fovmd 

 in houses under carpets and in similar places. Airs. Williams' house 

 was invaded by them and this peculiarity has been more often men- 

 tioned in literature than any other. 



The gregarious habit is also shown when the beetles go into hiber- 

 nation, for in the spring of the year under clods of earth, under 

 stones, boards, etc. the beetles may be found in great abundance. 



THE EGG STAGE. 



The eggs of this beetle are very minute objects measuring only 

 about .25 mm. long. The general shape and appearance are well 

 shown at figure 4, plate I. When first laid the eggs are milky 

 white but a little later they take on a pale brownish color. 



We can closely judge of the duration of the egg stage from the 

 following experiment. On May 31st, 1902 I brought living beetles 

 from Missoula to Bozeman and on June 2nd ten beetles each were 

 put on five strawberry plants in pots at the Experiment Station. 

 On June 7th a few eggs were found. The eggs became more and more 

 abundant and on the 21st there were many eggs to be found. The soil 

 was not examined again until June 27th when a few young larvae 

 were to be found. It thus appears that about twenty days or a 

 little less are required for the eggs to hatch. 



On June 27th the eggs were very abundant and it was roughly 

 estimated that there were 200 eggs in one can. It was impossible 

 to accurately count them. It will be remembered that ten beetles 

 were placed on each plant and if one-half of these were males, the 

 five females laid at the rate of forty eggs apiece. In making the 

 examination, so much of the soil was removed from the roots of 

 the plants that the plant which had already been weakened by the 

 attacks of the beetles could not be kept alive longer ; otherwise it is 

 probable that more eggs would have been deposited. 



