79 



in feeding. Early in the season, when the Leaves are -till tender, the 

 beetle eats small oblong holes in the leaves, but later in the season it 

 usually leaves the lower half intact and the upper portion finely skele- 

 tonized. At any rate, the damage done by the beetles, even when they 

 are very numerous. is trifling when compared with that inflicted by the 

 larva. The beetle is a slow walker and apparently dislikes to move 

 about without cogent reason, but if disturbed it takes wine- rapidly 

 and is capable of sustained night for long distances. During rainy 

 weather, at night time, and during the act of oviposition the beetle 

 is to be met with on the underside of the leaves. 



Hibernation. — There can he no doubt that the perfect beetle alone 

 hibernates. It seeks winter quarters rather early in the season, some 

 time in September. During mild winter days a specimen may occa- 

 sionally be found under accumulated leaves at or near the base of 

 locust tree-, but even for an experienced entomologist it is not an easy 

 task to find them in their sheltered retreats. 



Mode of oviposition. — Dr. Harris's description of the egg^ of Hispini 

 (Treatise, etc.. Flint ed.. p. 120) does not apply to this locust beetle, and 

 appears to have been made from dried cabinet specimens. The fact is 

 that in our species the eggs are not laid on the upper side of the leaf hut 

 always on the underside, and. further, that they are not laid singly but 

 in masses, each composed of from three to five eggs, which are glued 

 together by a sticky substance and partially covered with an exeremen- 

 titious secretion. We succeeded in July in partially observing the act 

 of oviposition. which may be described as follows: One egg was already 

 deposited, representing a somewhat flattened, short, oval object of 

 yellowish-pink color fastened to the leaf by its flat side. The female 

 beetle was quietly resting with the forepart of her body much erected 

 and the last abdominal joints covering the egg. while the tip of the elytra 

 touched the surface of the leaf beyond the egg. After a while the tip 

 of the abdomen was bent toward the Qgg and a yellowish-pink semifluid 

 matter was excreted: then an egg appeared at the genital opening, but 

 was several times retracted and again protruded, when finally, with a 

 sudden effort, the beetle moved its abdomen a little backward and 

 deposited the egg so that with it- end it rested upon the leaf ami with 

 it< greater portion over the first egg. Then the beetle rested for about 

 two minutes, when the same process was repeated. The act <^ oviposi- 

 tion itself takes only a fraction of a second. When tin 1 last egg has been 

 laid the beetle makes a sudden movement forward, sweeping with the 

 tip of tin 4 abdomen the upper side oi the egg mass and discharging at 

 the same time a large quantity of fluid fecal matter of dirty-yellow 

 color, which soon hardens and darkens. 



From this mode of oviposition the form of an egg mass can be readily 

 understood. Since tin 4 second and the following eggs each overlap 

 the preceding egg, but at the same time touch with one end the surface 



