LIFE HISTORIES OF PHILIPPINE CASSIDIDiE. 



269 



LIFE HISTORY. 



Egg laid ^ 

 Egg hatched 

 First molt 

 Second molt 



1907. 

 November 11 

 November 17 

 November 21 

 November 23 



Third molt 

 Fourth molt 

 Pupated 

 Adult emerged 



1907. 

 November 25 

 November 29 

 December 7 

 December 15 



Pupa: The general color of the pupa of L. philippinensis Blanch. (PL 

 V, fig. 3) is ochraceous-brown, with a few dark-brown markings around 

 the stigmata and on the discal areas of the segments. The pronotum 

 has a slight incision in front and a marginal row of spinules, of which the 

 two pairs in front are larger and more strongly developed than the 

 others. A triangular medial area is somewhat raised, it slopes toward 

 the outer margin, ending in two impressions toward the inner margin; 

 the outer margin of the first to the fifth abdominal segments is lamel- 

 lated, semitransparent and with a marginal row of spinules. Stigmata 

 brown, trachse excrescent, more so on the fourth and fifth abdominal 

 segments. L. philippinensis Blanch, feeds on Ipomcea triloha L. 



SUMMARY. 



The question of the purpose of the peculiar excremental coverings, 

 filaments or armatures arises in the study of the different stages of 

 Cassidida. Several autlaors have expressed their opinions. Weise men- 

 tions the excremental coverings, etc., as a shelter against draught, and 

 Candeze considers them as a protection against enemies. I have noted 

 the following facts bearing upon the above-mentioned theories, during 

 the observation of a few hundred specimens of the different species : 

 the' eggs of the different species are found on the upper and under 

 surfaces of the leaves, with the exception of those of one species (C. 

 picifrons Weise), in which instance they are encountered only on the 

 under surface; with or vdthout excremental coverings (in two species 

 entirely without such covering, namely, A miliai-is Pabr. and M. tri- 

 vittata Fabr.). It seems to me that the placing of the egg on the lower 

 surface of the leaf would be the first protection against draft,^ the 

 covering being a secondary one. Again, the excremental covering would 

 be a protection against parasites. Of all the eggs which I observed, only 

 one, L. philippinensis Blanch., was infested by a parasite (Ghalcididm) . 

 The larva of P. sinuata Oliv., as well as those of P. schuUzei Weise and 

 L. philippinensis Blanch., live mostly on the upper surface of the leaf 

 and are concealed under the excremental shield when resting, although 

 when they move about they carry the cover in a position nearly perpen- 

 dicular to the body. If molested by another insect, or by the shaking of 

 the leaf, they bend the shield over themselves as a protection. The solid 

 part of the shield entirely covers the abdominal segments dorsally, for 



° Small pieces of leaves with the eggs attached, were out out and placed in 

 glass dishes with covers. In the course of a day, the small fragments of leaves 

 were perfectly dry and brittle, although the eggs hatched just the same. 



