20 



BULLETIN 891, U. S. DEPARTMENT OE AGRICULTURE. 



pots. This simulated natural conditions as nearly as possible. 

 Glass jars containing 6 inches of soil were also used. 



When the pots were examined the female was very often surprised 

 during oviposition. On one occasion the burrow leading from the 

 surface to the bottom of the pot was excavated along one side of the 

 pot, so that the actual manner in which the nest was prepared before 

 the eggs were deposited was observed. In this instance the beetle had 

 widened the burrow considerably, forming an egg-shaped cavity with 

 the larger end towards the bottom of the pot. Its head was turned 

 upward, and was evidently used in the formation of the cavity. The 

 pot was replaced in its normal position and several days later, when 

 again examined, revealed the following conditions: When the pot 

 and about half an inch of the soil were removed, several eggs, each 

 separated from the others, were found, as shown in Plate I. These 

 were removed, with a layer of soil, when other eggs were found, the 

 process being continued until the entire mass of 27 eggs was removed. 



Table II. — Number of eggs laid by bred adults of Cotinis mtida, Norfolk, 



Va., 1916. 





Copula- 

 tion 

 date. 



First mass. 



Second mass. 



Third mass. 



Fourth mass. 



Total 

 number 



Cage No. 



Date. 



Num- 

 ber. 



Date. 



Num- 

 ber. 



Date. 



Num- 

 ber. 



Date. 



Num- 

 ber. 



of eggs 



de- 

 posited. 



ai 



July 25 



Julv 31 



.do... . 



Julv 27 



Aug. 2 

 Aug. 4 



...do 



Aug. 2 



...do 



Aug. 4 

 ...do 



56 

 29 

 25 

 13 















56 



b 



Aug. 4 



Aug. 14 



.do 



16 



14 

 8 

 38 

 14 

 29 

 20 



Aug. 18 



...do 



...do 



Aug. 16 

 Aug. 18 



14 



12 

 9 

 27 



8 



( 2 ) 

 Aug. 28 

 Aug. 20 

 Aug. 28 



33 

 3 



8 

 16 



83 





54 



d 



Julv 28 

 July 31 

 July 29 

 Aug. 1 

 ...do 



38 



e 3 



12 1 Aug. 4 

 14 Aug. 14 



22 ...do 



27 Aug. 18 



93 



f 



36 











51 



£::::::::::::::::: 



Aug. 28 



27 







74 





Aug. 8 

 .do 



Aug. 14 

 Aug. 18 



15 

 19 



° 



( 2 ) 



15 



30 





Aug. 24 



10 



Aug. 28 



7 



36 



] i 









1 Female escaped, all eggs found deposited in one mass. 



2 Dissected. 



3 Female taken from pupal cell, copulated soon afterward. 



It is evident that the female after preparing the burrow or nest, as 

 already described, deposits several eggs and packs soil around them, 

 continuing the process, layer after layer, until the entire mass is 

 deposited. Since the packing is very thorough the mass of eggs 

 separates from the nest very readily if moist, creating the impression 

 of being deposited in a ball of soil. 



The number of eggs deposited at one time or in a mass varies from 

 12 to 27. In one case 56 eggs were found, but since two sizes were 

 observed at one time it would seem that the female, if not disturbed 

 while in the nest, returns and deposits other masses. When dis- 

 turbed, as was necessary in cage experiments, four masses of eggs 

 were the highest number deposited bv a single beetle, as shown in 

 Table II. 



