THE BROWN FRUIT-CHAFER. 69 



which was measured when exactly 2 months old was when extended 

 26.5 mm long and 9.5 mm wide, but when it had iucreased to its maximum 

 size it was somewhat over 30 mm in length and 10 nim in width, being a 

 little more than a third wider than long. Before transformation to pupa 

 the larva shrinks to about half its former size, and with the absorption 

 and discharge of the contents of the abdominal canal becomes light 

 yellow in color. The head is moderately shining deep honey yellow, 

 with the lower portions darker, deep brown at the sutures, the mandibles 

 nearly black. The legs are lighter, as also the prothoracic shield. 



Thepupa. — The pupa is sufficiently well shown by the accompanying 

 illustration (fig. 15, e) to obviate the necessity of a detailed description. 

 It is light yellow in color and takes on a brownish tint before transfor- 

 mation to adult, the elytral pads, legs, and mouth-parts being a shade 

 darker than the other portions of the body. It measures about 15 mm 

 in length and 9 mm in width at the widest part, which is near the middle. 



Transformation to pupa takes place in a substantial cocoon, which is 

 smooth and regularly oval within and rough and irregular on the outer 

 surface. The cocoon has a protuberant spot on one side, probably the 

 under surface, and due perhaps to the excess of fluid which is voided 

 by the larva during its construction. The cocoons before me measure 

 from 17 to 20 mm in length and 14 to 16 mm in width on the outer surface. 

 In transforming the larva pushes its shed skin down into a bunch at 

 the anal extremity. 



The adult. — The general appearance of the adult beetle is shown at a 

 of the illustration. It is of robust form, with a triangular thorax. The 

 ground color is brown; the thorax is nearly black, with a few yellowish 

 markings toward the base of the elytra; the elytra and scutellum are 

 light yellowish brown mottled with black markings arranged in a 

 variable pattern, but usually approaching that shown in the illustration. 

 Nearly the entire surface, except the elytra, is covered with a coating 

 of yellowish gray pubescence, which is long and thick on the under sur- 

 face, particularly on the thorax and legs. Its length is from one-half 

 inch to considerably more (12 to 14 mm ), and the width is about five- 

 eighths of an inch (7 to 8 mm ). 



This species occurs practically everywhere in the United States east 

 of the Eocky Mountains, as also in Canada. It is most abundant in 

 the North, its place in the South being tilled by other more numerous 

 congeneric insects of several species. 



OVIPOSLTION. 



The record of egg laying as observed is as follows : 

 April, probably none ; May, nine; June 2, one; 3, four; 4, two; 

 6, five; 7, "?; 8 to 10, ?; 11 and 12, seven; 13, four; 14, three; 15, one, 

 when egg laying ceased, the beetle dying about the 19th. 



During three days from the 8th to the 10th this beetle was free in the 

 office room, having escaped from the rearing jar in which she had been 



