BULLETIN 221, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE PUPA. 



The first pupae (fig. 4) to be found were in earthen cells in the soil 

 near corn plants at depths of from 4 to 6 inches. The finding of 

 pupse which were nearly mature at this time, some of which changed 

 to adults by the next morning, indicated that the larvae had finished 

 feeding and were in their pupal cells. 



The pupa is white until within one day of 

 maturity, when it begins to darken. 



In dorsal view the head is bent ventrad; 

 the bristles on the head are prominent and 

 irregularly placed in a double row on the me- 

 dian dorsal line; there is a single row of setae 

 above the plural suture; the eighth abdom- 

 inal segment has a semicircular row of setae 

 and the anal segment is supplied with a stout, 

 curved spine; each abdominal segment bears 

 several stout setae on the dorsum. In lat- 

 eral view the body is longer than wide, taper- 

 ing from the fifth abdominal segment; the 

 antennae are directed dorsad around the femora of the two front 

 pairs of legs, thence backward with the tips lying near the claws 

 of the middle legs and on top of them; the elytra and wings are 

 rather short, thick, tapering toward the tip, and folded over the 

 posterior legs, the tarsi of which reach the eighth segment. In 

 ventral view the head is as long as the thorax, directed forward, 

 with the front lying between the tarsi of 

 the front pair of legs; the elytra and the 

 tarsi nearly meet ventrally, forming a deep 

 ventral groove. The pupa is 5 to 6 mm. long 

 and from 3 to 3.5 mm. wide. 



Fig. 4.— The southern corn leaf- 

 beetle: Pupa. (Original.) 



THE ADULT. 



Fig. 5.— The southern corn leaf- 

 beetle: Adult. (Original.) 



To the average farmer the beetles (fig. 5) 

 can be recognized as small, dark brownish 

 beetles, more or less covered with bits of soil. 

 They are about three-sixteenths of an inch long 

 and about one-third as wide. They have the 

 habit of dropping from their food plant to 

 the ground and hiding when disturbed, and owing to this habit they 

 are very rarely seen. Quite often farmers have noticed seriously 

 damaged young corn, the plants being literally in fragments, and 

 have been unable to locate the cause on account of this habit of the 

 beetles of dropping to the ground and hiding. It is sometimes diffi- 

 cult even for trained entomologists to locate them. 



