16 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO GARDEN AND ORCHARD CROPS. 



hatched irregularly through the summer," and Bath von also in his con- 

 clusion that there were not less than " three generations annually, 

 although there appeared to be a dozen." 



From frequently finding the insect in different stages, early and late, 

 the conclusion that two or more generations were produced each year 

 is only natural. Dr. Smith makes mention of the number of genera- 

 tions in the following words: "Exceptionally, specimens matured early 

 in August may mate and oviposit 5 but such cases are rare, I believe." 



Twenty beetles of the new generation were placed by the writer on 

 a squash plant at Washington, August 7, and covered with netting. 

 After a time, during a severe rain, the covering was removed, and 

 when next examined the beetles had disappeared and no eggs were to 

 be found. Indications are therefore that the species is single-brooded. 



EARLY AND LATE OCCURRENCES. 



A season's observations met only partial success in the ascertainment 

 of what might naturally be considered matter of easy accomplishment. 

 This exemplifies the futility of drawing conclusions on the entire life 

 history of an insect from a single season's observation in a somewhat 

 limited locality, and yet little better should be anticipated from a spe- 

 cies so local and periodical in its attack. 



In the first place, a sharp lookout for the first appearing adults 

 resulted in their discovery June 25, within two or three days of their 

 first appearance; yet this date is not so early as that already recorded 

 for New Jersey and southern New York. 



Dr. Smith observed in one season in New Jersey that "by the begin- 

 ning of September all traces of the species had disappeared from the 

 fields." In the season of 1880 the writer saw this insect in great abun- 

 dance, September 5, on squash near Springlake Beach, N. J., from one 

 to a dozen beetles on a single leaf. Larvae were also present, and pupae 

 were observed as late as September 15. 



Here, near Washington, the past season the beetles were noticeably 

 less abundant in September, practically disappearing with the death 

 of their food plants, about the middle of the month. Two stragglers, 

 however, were seen as late as October 6 on a belated watermelon vine. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



In Moore's article an insect is figured and described as in several 

 instances having been found preying upon the larva of this Goccinellid 

 "by inserting its proboscis in the body of the latter and sucking out 

 its contents." The illustration which is given of this insect in the act 

 of destroying its victim is perfectly recognizable as the spined soldier- 

 bug, Podisus spinosus, or a closely related species of the same genus, 

 which includes some well-known enemies of leaf-feeding coleopterous 

 larvae. The tachina fly, Euphorocera claripennis Macq., has been reared 

 as a parasite of this species, having issued from the larva in August 

 and September. 



