14 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1267, U. S. DEPT. OP AGRICULTURE 



These experiments showed, however, that the larvse during their 

 growth pass through two molts. There is, of course, a third molt 

 at the close of the prepupa state. This result is in harmony with 

 those obtained by a number of other workers in Coleoptera. 



Immediately after hatching, the head shield of the young larva is 

 distinctly wider than the trunk (fig. 3) ; at this time it is quite soft 

 and pure white. It hardens, however, within a day or two and 

 assumes the normal red color. It then ceases to grow, but the trunk 

 continues to expand and in time exceeds the head in thickness. Then 

 when the larva has attained considerable size it undergoes its 

 first molt. In the process the skin of the trunk splits lengthwise 

 on the dorsal side, while the head shield becomes detached from it 

 and is forced off the head in front. The new head shield is soft 

 and pure white at first; it expands rapidly after the molt and in- 

 a short time hardens, assumes the characteristic red color, and again 

 exceeds the body in width. Succeeding molts are accomplished in 

 the same manner. 



The larvae were frequently observed to devour the exuvium shortly 

 after the molt had been completed. 



Table 1 gives data on molting experiments at Charlottesville, Va. 



Table 1. — Molting records of Euetheola rugiceps, Charlottesville, Va., 1915 



Serial No. 



Larva hatched 



First 

 molt 



Second 

 molt 



Third 

 molt 



Emer- 

 gence 



of 

 adult 



Yl 



[Aug. 14.. 



[Sept. 19 

 -teept. 15 

 [Sept. 14 

 Sept. 20 

 [Sept. 16 

 J, Sept. 18 

 ISept. 21 

 /Sept. 16 

 \Sept. 21 

 /Oct. 20 

 \...dO— . 



Nov. 4 

 Oct. 14 

 Oct. 12 







Y3 



Nov. 21 

 Nov. 30 





Y4 - 



Aug. 27(?) 



[sept. 1 (?) 



Jan. 18 



Y7 





Y8 









Y9 



Oct. 18 

 Oct. 20 







Y10 



JAug. 14 



Dec. 10 



Jan. 18 



Y16 -- 















jsept. 25 



isept. 14 





Y62 









Y63 -- 









Y67 



fOct. 19 

 lOct. 14 

 lOct. 11 

 I Oct. 14 

 Nov. 3 

 /Oct. 18 

 \Oct. 21 









Y71 



Nov. 13 

 ...do 



Jan. 29 



Mar. 9 









Sept. 27 





Y73 









Y74 









Y75 



jsept. 14 























Y79 



Nov. 19 



Jan. 27 













The experience of the writers in Virginia indicates beyond much 

 doubt that the normal habitat of all stages of Euetheola rugiceps 

 consists of open grasslands on low or poorly drained areas of rela- 

 tively heavy, dark-colored soils. The conditions prevailing in the 

 habitat were most fully investigated in the vicinity of Tappahan- 

 nock, but visits to other points in the State, from which the species 

 has been recorded, show that essentially similar conditions charac- 

 terize the habitat in all the localities examined. 



Similar conditions have also been reporteci by other writers. Thus 

 Howard (7, p. 12) quotes a correspondent who wrote from Canton, 

 Miss., that this insect was the worst corn pest on heavy, wet land he 

 had ever experienced. Webster (14-, p. 159) states that in Tensas 



