12 



BULLETIN 967, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Fig. 11. — Pupa of blister beetle in situ in cell. 



ing on the prevailing temperature. Pupae have been secured be- 

 ginning May 27 and continuing until August. Five that were han- 

 dled in confinement be- 

 tween May 27 and July 24 

 had an average pupal pe- 

 riod of 18 days. 



Emergence of Adult. 



As the time for emer- 

 gence approaches, the tips 

 of the appendages begin to 

 darken. The coloration 

 spreads gradually through- 

 out the appendages and 

 into the body. Several 

 days before the emergence 

 of the adults twitching 

 movements begin in the 

 tarsi. These become more 

 vigorous toward the end of 

 the pupal period, finally involving the legs and oral appendages. 

 During its struggles the beetle rights itself and explores the narrow 

 confines of its chamber. A thin, transparent, parchment-like mem- 

 brane loosens on the surface of its body and is torn beyond recogni- 

 tion by the sharp tarsal claws. Adults from 

 pupse that have formed against the walls of 

 glass containers have remained in the ceils 

 for several days after transformation before 

 digging to the surface. Whether or not such 

 is the case when light is excluded was not 

 determined. 



Macrobasis uxicolor Kirby. 



The data secured on Macrobasis unicolor 

 add nothing to the general account given for 

 Macrobasis immaculata. The third larvae 

 have been collected by April 15, and eight 



specimens secured by that time had yielded fig. 12.— The spotted wis 

 the adults by May 30. The data on M. uni- 

 color indicate that it, also, hibernates as coarc- 



RESULTS OF WORK ON EPICAUTA. 



descriptive. 



Epicauta maculata Say. 

 Adult. 

 Adult specimens of Epicauta maculata (fig. 12) varied from 10 mm. long 

 by 2.25 mm. wide to 13 mm. long by 3.5 mm. wide, which makes it one of the 



ter beetle {Epicauta 

 maculata). Enlarged. 

 (Chittenden.) 



