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beetle and its larva at Manassas Gap. It was feeding on red elm, 

 and in one case utterly defoliated a tree 16 or 18 inches in diame- 

 ter. Jnly 25, 1904, Mr. W. C. Davis sent specimens in the egg, 

 larval, and adult stages found on elms which were being injured at 

 Eockbridge Baths, Va. 



A good account of this species, with descriptions of its various 

 stages, was published in the Report of the Entomologist for 1878 

 (Report of Commissioner of Agriculture, pp. 245-247, PL IV), 

 which includes illustrations of the dilTerent stages, with a very brief 

 account of the life cycle, the impression evidently being that the 

 insect Avas single-brooded. It was stated that " toward the end of 

 July and early in August the worms cease feeding and descend into 

 the ground, burrowing therein and forming a simple oval cavity 

 a few inches below the surface. They lie dormant therein through 

 the fall, winter, and early sj^ring months, assuming the pupa state 

 but about a week before the beetles issue." The experience of the 

 present year indicates a possibility of two generations or a long gen- 

 eration due to a long egg-laying period, as the eggs received July 

 25 hatched before the end of the month and the first week of August, 

 larvae attaining full growth during the latter half of August. 



August 27, 1904, Mr. Otto M. Von Schrader, Charlestown, Jeffer- 

 son County, W. Va., sent specimens of the larva, none of which had 

 transformed to pupa when received on the 29th. 



By request Mr. Davis kept this species under observation, and 

 August 24 sent specimens of the nearly mature larva, Avith leaA^es 

 almost completely skeletonized. In regard to the possible occurrence 

 of a later generation he Avrote substantially that July 12 the beetles 

 Avere A^ery abundant, but by the 25th the}^ had left many of the trees 

 entirely. In our rearing cages the beetles remained Avell into the 

 first half of August. At Rockbridge Baths a considerable number 

 of egg clusters remained, although the number observed seemed out 

 of proportion to the numbers of beetles, fair evidence that the beetles 

 do not deposit more than Iavo egg masses. August 1 the eggs began 

 to hatch. Although the larA^a? Avere not more abundant in the latter 

 part of August, the damage accomplished Avas ten times greater, as 

 they destroyed the leaA^es more rapidly and more thoroughly by 

 skeletonizing them. They prefer the under surface of the leaA^es, 

 as do nearly all of their kind. Often, hoAvever, they are found feed- 

 ing on the upper surface, presumably Avhen this portion is in the 

 shade. They sometimes eat through the leaf, but normally skeleton- 

 ize it. Many leaves turn broAvn and drop Avithout shoAving any signs 

 of having been touched by the beetles. 



