70 Zoologica: N. Y. Zoological Society [HI; 3 



before proceeding with its titillation and remain with its head 

 flattened down, even when the coccid failed to move its anal seg- 

 ments. Once a large larva came up and endeavored to get some 

 of the excretion but was promptly butted away, and once another 

 beetle was treated in the same manner. After the 25 feedings 

 the beetle moved away and another beetle came up and received 

 from the same coccid four globules in less than two minutes. 



August 12, I observed a beetle (No. 1), which was red and 

 therefore immature, soliciting from a nearly full-grown coccid 

 in a petiole collected a few days previously and already beginning 

 to become dry. The beetle stroked the coccid for 15 minutes, 

 during which time the latter produced only five droplets of 

 honey-dew at intervals of two to five minutes. Then a mature, 

 dark colored beetle (No. 2) came up and began to stroke the 

 anterior end of the coccid, gradually moving back over it. When- 

 ever the beetles met they butted each other with their heads or 

 even locked mandibles for an instant and then returned to their 

 former position and occupation. Beetle No. 1 worked for an- 

 other 15 minutes without a reward. The coccid then rotated 

 180 deg. on its dorsoventral axis so that its anal end was now 

 presented to beetle No. 2, and inserted its beak into another part 

 of the nutritive parenchyma. The beetle at once became more 

 alert and accelerated the beat of its antennze. During the suc- 

 ceeding eight minutes it received seven globules of honey-dew 

 in quick succession, probably as a result of the coccid's change 

 of pasture. Throughout this period beetle No. 1 kept titillating 

 the coccid's side, pausing now and then for a few seconds, and 

 after 40 minutes from the time I began the observation, moved 

 away. Beetle No. 2 continued to stroke the coccid for some 

 time, but I did not follow its behavior further. 



In another colony at 8 P. M. on the same day I noticed a 

 nearly mature beetle (No 3) vigorously stroking the hind end 

 of a small coccid, while its sides were being stroked simultane- 

 ously by two just-hatched larvse (A and B). From time to time 

 other beetles and older larvae came up and joined the party. 

 Beetle No. 3 continually butted the newcomers away and they 

 at last rather reluctantly departed, leaving the original trio in 

 possession of the coccid. Every few seconds the beetle gave 



