INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS. 533 
As regards the time and mode of laying the eggs, we quote 
from Dr. Lockwood as follows: ‘On the evening of the 13th 
June last we caught in the drug-store, Keyport, whither they were 
attracted by the profusion of light, four Cotalpas, representing 
both sexes. These were taken home and well cared for. On the 
16th a pair coupled. A jar of earth was at once provided, and 
the beetles placed on top of the dirt. In the evening the female 
burrowed and disappeared. Near midnight she had not returned 
to the surface; next morning she had reappeared. The earth 
was then very carefully taken from the jar, and, as removed, was 
_ inspected with a glass of wide field but low power. Fourteen 
eggs were found, not laid (as we expected) in one spot or group, 
but singly and at different depths. I was surprised at their great 
size. Laid lengthwise, end touching end, two eggs measured 
very nearly three-sixteenths of an inch. They were like white 
Wax, semi-translucent ; in form, long-ovoid and perfectly symmet- 
rical. On the 13th of July one had hatched; the grub was well 
formed and very lively. Its dimensions were about five-six- 
teenths of an inch in length and about three-thirtieths of an inch 
in thickness. It was a dull white, the head-plate precisely that 
dull yellow seen in the adult grub, the legs the same color, and the 
extremity of the abdomen lead-color, the skin being transparent. 
For food, a sod of white clover (Trifolium repens) was given them, 
roots downward, knowing that the young larvæ would come up- 
ward to eat. They were then left undisturbed until August 19th, 
when the sod was removed, and it was found that the grubs had 
eaten into it, thus making little oval chambers, which were en- 
larged as the eating went on. They were carefully picked out 
and a fresh sod of grass and clover supplied. They had now 
grown five-eighths of an inch in length, preserving the same 
lors. 
It is quite possible that a few of the eggs escaped me in the 
search. Iam of opinion, however, that from fifteen to twenty is 
the average number laid by one beetle. In short, the insect lays 
her eggs in the night, probably not more than twenty. The 
hatching of these required in the present instance twenty-seven 
days. It must be remembered that a large portion of this time 
was remarkably cold and wet. It is almost certain that with 
favorable thermal conditions this might be lessened fully seven 
days. 
