13 



Syracuse, from the middle or latter part of June until the second 

 or third week in July. During this time the willows grow rapidly, 

 about three feet being a fair growth, and as the beetles feed vora- 

 ciously on the tender leaves and bark at the tips of the willow- 

 whips irreparable injury is done by causing them to branch 

 as previously explained. 



Hibernation. — By the first of August nearly all the beetles 

 have left the willows and sought shelter in any convenient 

 place. In the fields about Syracuse they could occasionally be 

 found under stones but were more numerous under logs, 

 under bark on trees and in the crevices in fence rails. In willow 

 fields which have not been kept free from weeds and grass, the 

 beetles find shelter down close to the roots or in the stools of 

 grass. In these retreats they remain until the following spring. 



NUMBER OF BROODS. 



There are probably two broods and possibly three, but this 

 point has not been satisfactorily settled. The writer failed to find 

 eggs later than June 24, and as the beetles retreat to winter quar- 

 ters early in August, there is hardly time for more than two 

 broods under the most favorable circumstances, 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



Several species of Cocdnellidm, lady -bird beetles, and Carabides, 

 ground beetles, are said to attack this insect in the undeveloped 

 state. The eggs especially are devoured by the lady-bird beetles. 

 Dr. Riley= states that he has observed a species of Cocdnellidce , 

 Megilla maculata, feeding upon larvae and pupae of this insect. 

 Doubtless these natural enemies have been more or less active in 

 the willow fields about Syracuse, but the writer did not observe 

 an instance of this kind on any of the visits to the fields, and of 

 several growers questioned, none had seen the predaceous insects. 



5 Insect Life, 3:43- 



