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



its highest point probably not exceeding 4 feet above tide, from 

 which point it sloped gently toward the marsh. Most of the larvae 

 of Euetheola rugiceps were found within a few yards of the marsh 

 under growths of Paspalum la&ve, the soil at that point being moist 

 but not soggy. The soil and vegetation here were essentially similar 

 to those in the Coghill pasture. 



Larvae of Euetheola rugiceps were found in a number of other 

 locations near Tappahannock and wherever found in numbers the 

 locations were similar in all essential respects to the pastures pre- 

 viously described. 



Besides occurring in what may be considered their normal habitat, 

 larvae have been found in locations that are not entirely typical. 

 Such occurrences seem very localized and are restricted to areas near 

 the normal breeding grounds. Also, larvae seem rarely to reach 

 maturity in well-cultivated fields. For example, in cornfields near 

 old breeding grounds, and in which the corn was practically de- 

 stroyed, very few full-grown larvae could be found. 



The junior writer carefully examined 

 a hay field for larvae, the sod consisting 

 chiefly of timothy, clover, and Bermuda 

 grass. This field was near the Coghill 

 pasture and had been in sod only three 

 or four years. Across one end, in an 

 area about 20 feet square, a large number 

 of larvae of Euetheola rugiceps were 

 found, while elsewhere in the field the 

 larvae appeared very scarce. There seems 

 fig ; 4.— ventral view of head re- to k e no satisfactory explanation of this 



gion of pupa of Euetheola rugi- . J r 



mps, showing structure of mouth singular occurrence at present. I he field 

 from photograph by j^'paine) just mentioned was planted to corn the 



following year and there was consider- 

 able injury from E. rugiceps.) the greater part of the injury being in 

 the vicinity of the spot where the larvae were so plentiful the pre- 

 ceding year. This does not prove conclusively, however, that a good 

 part of the injury was not due to migrating beetles from the old 

 pasture. 



The soil in the timothy sod of the field just mentioned was a fine, 

 rather sandy loam. Fine sandy loams appear to constitute the 

 dominant types throughout most of the region bordering the Eappa- 

 hannock River. These soils apparently harbor Euetheola rugiceps 

 only in the poorly drained areas that have become overgrown with 

 wild grasses. In the opinion of the writers thorough cultivation 

 combined with good drainage will eliminate E. rugiceps as a corn 

 pest in such localities. 



PREPUPA 



In the beginning of the prepupa stage the larva ceases to feed and 

 becomes relatively quiescent, the power of movement being retained 

 only within the posterior half, which is capable of being bent forward 

 beneath the thorax and then straightened out again. This movement 

 may be repeated a number of times in rapid succession and is doubt- 

 less of use in assisting the creature to enlarge the cavity or cell in 

 which the pupa stage is passed, as well as in splitting the larval 

 integument and thereby freeing the inclosed rjurja. During the pre- 



