31 



found to have grown half a millimeter in diameter by a process of 



absorption well known in eggs of the hectics of this family. 



The exact duration of the egg stage could not be observed, but it 

 was at least sixteen days and probably longer, the weather for this 

 period being a little warmer than normal. 



Several years ago the writer received from the late George D. 

 Bradford, at that time traveling in the South, a number of larva? of 

 this species collected in the spring at Beaufort, S. C. , from which 

 material some interesting observations were made. 



For several weeks after the receipt of these larvae they did not 

 manifest any signs of feeding, but later in July and August they ate 

 freely of the mold or dead woody matter in which they were sent. 

 There was originally over a gallon jar full of this mold, and as that 

 in the jar was consumed, the remainder, perhaps a quart, was added. 

 Three larvae were kept in this, and almost the entire contents had 

 become consumed and converted into pellets, resembling on a small 

 scale those of a goat or rabbit, when the larvae became full fed. 

 They ceased feeding during the third week of August and remained 

 for a few days as if resting, then went to work to form cells for the 

 pupal transformation. When larvae are disturbed they roll over and 

 over, like the larvae of man}' other Coleoptera and some other orders 

 of insects, and the same motion was continued by the pupa. By this 

 motion, in time, the interior of the pupal cell is rolled quite smooth. 



August 21 the skin was noticed to be shriveled, and on the following 

 day this increased. On the 21>th all three pupated. One was still 

 white toward evening, the other brown. Transformation to the imago 

 occurred on the 20th of October, all undergoing this metamorphosis 

 the same day. This gives a pupal period of fifty-one days, probably 

 the longest warm weather pupal period of any of our Coleoptera. 



The pupal cells were coated externally with excremental pellets and 

 bits of rotten wood, and showed an average measurement of from 2 

 to 3 inches in length and li to li inches in width. 



Hibernation takes place normally in the beetle state, and the beetles 

 obtained in this instance were kept until some time in July of the 

 following year, when they died during the writer's absence. 



The rhinoceros beetle seldom occurs in such abundance as to be 

 reckoned a pest. According to Dr. Lintner. however, the beetles are 

 sometimes capable of injuries of considerable importance. He >tate> 

 (Fifth New York Report, p. 230), on the authority of Mr. J. W. Mur- 

 rell, Perrowville, Va.. that numbers of the beetles were observed 

 feeding on the tender shoots of spring growth of ash trees, causing 

 the leaves to fall and cover the ground as if a frost had passed over 

 them. Their food consists largely of sap. which Hows from the plants 

 attacked. Beetles mav be attracted by bruising ash twigs. 



The beetles are sometimes troublesome on account of their strong 

 and disagreeable odor. 



