BUSTER BEETLES IN KANSAS. 11 



of vegetable matter. Their mode of locating and entering grass- 

 hopper agg capsules has never been observed by the writer; but a 

 few weeks later the large, plump, white scarabaeidoid larvae and 

 the reddish-brown coarctate larvae have been found in capsules of 

 grasshopper eggs. Probably a large percentage of the triungulins 

 fail to find grasshopper eggs and perish from starvation. The fact 

 that not more than one larva is ever found in a capsule indicates a 

 further mortality through struggles between rival claimants for 

 egg masses, since where the triungulins are so numerous it seems 

 certain that more than one would enter each capsule of eggs. 



All evidence that has been secured as to the rate of growth and the 

 character of the accompanying transformations indicates that they 

 are similar to and probably parallel with those decribed by Riley, 2 in 

 the case of Epicaufa vittata. 



On becoming full grown the larvae burrow away from the egg- 

 capsules they have emptied, usually going much deeper, then turn- 

 ing toward the surface. There each larva forms an elliptical cham- 

 ber at a slight angle with the perpendicular, stiffens out with the 

 head uppermost, and sheds the old larval skin, which remains around 

 the posterior portion of the abdomen. This leaves the elongate 

 hemispherical coarctate larva standing almost vertically on end in 

 the old exuvium and supported near the anterior end by the dorsal 

 portion resting against the wall of the cell. The depth at which 

 coarctate larvae are found varies, being from 3 to 6 inches below the 

 surface. 



The coarctate larvae have been found from late in summer until 

 late the next spring. No scarabaeidoid larvae large enough to be- 

 long to this species have been found during the winter or spring. 

 This indicates that the species hibernates only in the coarctate larval 

 stage. 



After the spring's warmth penetrates to the coarctate larva the 

 rigid skin splits along the anterior portion of the dorsal line. The 

 third larva wriggles out and burrows toward the surface. The 

 writer's earliest record of this transformation is dated May 28, but 

 another record gives pupation on May 27, so it is safe to say that the 

 third larvae begin to appear in Kansas about May 20. 



Pupation. 



After a few days' activity the third larva has approached to within 

 1 or 2 inches of the surface. Here it constructs an elongate cell 

 at an angle with the horizontal of from 30° to GO . It turns 

 on its back therein (fig. 11) and begins transformation to the 

 true pupa. The process requires several days, the exact time depend- 



2 Riley, C. V., Packard A. S., and Thomas. Cybds. Op ctt., p. 209. 



