The B.ology of Maine Species of Altica. 177 



4 transformed to pupae in 3 days after entering soil, 18 in 4 days, 

 39 in 5 days, 29 in 6 days, 14 in 7 days, 4 in 8 days, 2 in 9 days, and 

 1 in 11 days; average 5 days. 



Length of the pupal period. A record which was kept of 

 75 pupae which transformed between July 24 and August 14 

 inclusive, may be tabulated as follows : 



5 emerged as adults in 6 days after the pupal molt, 24 in 7 days, 30 

 in 8 days, 13 in 9 days, and 3 in 10 days ; average 8 days. 



Typical life history. The following is cited as a typical life history: 

 9 eggs deposited July 9 (1917) hatched on July 16; all molted to the 

 second instar on July 20 ; 3 molted to the third instar on July 24, 5 on 

 July 25, and 1 on July 26 ; 3 entered the soil as prepupae on July 27, 

 and 6 on July 28; 3 transformed to pupae on July 30, 2 adults emerging 

 on August 7, and one of the pupae dying; 2 transformed to pupae on 

 August 1, emerging as adults on August 8; 4 transformed to pupae on 

 August 2, 2 emerging as adults on August 10 and 2 on August 11. 



Seasonal History in Maine. 



Like the other members of the ignita group, the rose flea- 

 beetle passes the winter as an adult, hidden away in the debris 

 at the base of the rose-bushes. The writer has not had this 

 species under observation in Maine in the spring, but, judging 

 from Connecticut material, the beetles emerge from their winter 

 quarters and begin ovipositing at approximately the same time 

 as the dogwood flea-beetle. The oviposition period is excep- 

 tionally long even for a flea-beetle, and eggs were deposited in 

 the laboratory as late as July 31 (1917). Eggs were found 

 commonly in Maine on July 20 (1918) and the first larvae on 

 July 25 (1918). 



Many of the hibernating adults- survive until late July, but 

 the latest date to which one lived in the laboratory was August 

 8 (191 7). The first beetle of the new generation to emerge in 

 the laboratory transformed on July 31 (1917). 



There is only one generation each year, at least in Maine. 



Distribution. 



The writer has taken this species in Middletown, Conn., and 

 has seen specimens collected in Massachusetts and New York. 



In Maine the writer has taken this species in Orono and 

 Ellsworth, and Doctor Patch has collected specimens in Port- 

 land, so it is probably generally distributed throughout the State. 



