30 
in Volume V of the American Naturalist (p. 219), where it is described 
under the name Tachina (Melanosphora) diabrotice. OCelatoria crawtt 
Coq., described and figured from specimens reared in California from 
Diabrotica soror (Insect Life, Vol. II, pp. 233-236) is a synonym. This 
parasite has also been reared from D. 12-punctata. 
THE TWELVE-SPOTTED CUCUMBER BEETLE OR SOUTHERN CORN 
ROOT-WORM. 
(Diabrotica 12-punctata Ol.) 
Incidental to the occurrence of this species with the preceding a few 
observations on the eggs and egg period and on the habits of the insect 
were made and will be mentioned. 
May 8, two females were noticed unusually distended with eggs, and 
an effort was consequently made to ascertain the complement that 
might be laid. The first individual was confined in a vial that evening, 
and the following morning 135 eggs were found, mostly in large masses 
and evidently laid in strings. The beetles were transferred to another 
vial, and by May 13 had deposited 16 more eggs in one mass. The 
second was found to have laid 105 eggs May 13, mostly in small masses 
of from two to a dozen or more, and a few days later 97 more were 
counted, a total of 202. 
Eggs hatched in 6 to 7 days in cool weather in the first two weeks of 
May. 
It may be remembered that Mr. Pergande has been placed on record 
(Insect Life, Vol. IV, p. 107) as authority for the observation that the 
beetle feeds upon the leaves of horse nettle (Solanum carolinense). Can 
it be possible that the larva also feeds upon solanaceous plants? I 
hardly believe so, and yet on August 18 of the present year I found at 
Glen Echo, Md., at the roots of a plant of Jamestown weed (Datura 
stramonium) a pupa which, to my surprise, developed into this species. 
The weed grewin a field of corn, and it would seem more probable that 
this was the food plant of this larva which had strayed for pupation. 
On the 25th of August Mr. F.C. Pratt found in the suburbs of Wash- 
ington a larva of this species in the soil about the roots of the pigweed, 
Amarantus retroflecus. No corn grew in the vicinity, and if this larva 
had not fed at the roots of the Amarantus it had probably come from 
some wild grass. 
The larve or pup of this beetle have been taken by different 
observers about the roots of various other plants, among which are 
recorded wheat, Rudbeckia, and the sedges of the genera Cyperus and 
Scirpus. The sedges, at least, appear to be natural larval food plants, 
but further investigation will doubtless prove that the species breeds 
on various plants in addition to the Cyperace and Graminez. It has 
not been found upon cucumber or other cucurbits except in the adult 
condition, and if it breeds upon these plants it must be exceptional; 
hence the name of twelve-spotted cucumber beetle should give way to 
the more appropriate one of southern corn root-worm. The species is 
acitsigiehiednabeiabiaml iperanteiatediitisniniliieiidsbiccnnghantn ca dela 
