266 



SCHULTZB. 



Cassida picifbons Weise (PI. VI, fig. .3). 



Cassida (Odontionycha) picifrons Weise, This Journal, current number. 



Egg (PI. Ill, fig. 5) : in a thin primary case, fastened to the leaf 

 by a very thin, semitransparent and smooth cover. The eggs are laid 

 singly, rarely in pairs, but always under an individual cover, on the 

 underside of the leaf. Usually some particles of excrement are found 

 on the cover. 



Larva: The young larva very much resembles that of M. trivittata 

 Fabr., not alone in shajDe, but also in its behavior, as it places its excre- 

 ment in a like manner on the long, subanal spines, but forming a more 

 irregular and loose lump . than that of M. tnvittata Fabr. The very 

 young larva is yellowish-white, later the color becomes light green and 

 as the skin appears transparent, the different organs are visible as lighter 

 or darker markings. The first pairs of inner spines of the prothoracic 

 segment are curved, the others straight and all of about the same length. 

 The first pair on the meso- and metathoracic segments are two-thirds the 

 length of the second pair, which are as long as those on the prothoracic 

 segment; spines of the first to fifth abdominal segments smaller than 

 the former, decreasing in length toward the latter segment. The spines 

 on the sixth to eighth segments increase in size again, the ninth segment 

 having the longest spines. The spines have spinules on them similar to 

 those of M. trivittata Fabr. These larvte (PI. Ill, fig. 6) place their 

 excreta loosely between the different exuvias. 



LIFE HISTORY. 



Egg laid 

 Egg hatched 

 First molt 

 Second molt 



1907. 





December 



2 



December 



7 



December 



10 



December 



12 



1 



Third molt 

 Fourth molt 

 Pupated 

 Adult emerged 



1907. 

 December 16 

 December 20 

 December 23 

 December 26 



Pupa: The pronotum of the pupa (PI. Ill, fig. 7) is not as rounded 

 as in M. trivittata Fabr. ; the surrounding spinules are somewhat ' ir- 

 regular in length. First to fifth abdominal segments lameUated and 

 surrounded by spinules. Lamellation on first to fourth segment drawn 

 out into very long spines. Stigmata white, traeheEe ^ excrescent, the 

 relative length of each to the other being as follows: trachea of first 

 and second segments equal, one-third the length of that of the third 

 segment; of the fourth segment twice as long as the one on the first 

 segment and of .the fifth segment but half as long as that of the third 

 segment (1-1-3-2-14). 



This species feeds on Amarantus sjiinosiis Linn. 



' The excrescent tracheae may prove to be very valid specific characters. 



