64 PAPERS ON CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS, 



one sees on the superior portion an elevation in the form of a cross, feebly marked." 

 Elytra uneven, feebly variolate, marked toward the apex with a callous point, nearly 

 spinose, blackish, shining. 



( 01ivier's illustration is imperfect in that it is very crude, showing neither punctu- 

 ation nor sculpture and the general impression is that of a shining species, which was 

 certainly not intended. The thorax is a Httle short, otherwise the form coincides 

 with the species which is figured herewith. 



The cinereous base of the rostrum is an important character, as it signifies that a 

 considerable portion of the base is coated while in cariosus it is not. The cross-like 

 elevation of the thoracic disc is aptly described as feebly indicated, in fact it requires 

 a little imagination to discern it in many individuals; moreover, it is not shown in 

 Olivier s figure. 



Among eoleopterists in general the adults of this species are sup- 

 posed to be covered by a coating, consequent upon the beetles com- 

 ing in contact with the soil. This supposition is most certainly 

 erroneous, as adults secured by Dr. Chittenden from cocoons and 

 by others of the bureau from the chambers in the roots of corn before 

 they had come in contact with anything excepting the debris with 

 which the chambers are more or less filled, are found to possess this 

 coating. 



Specimens secured by Dr. Chittenden are of a rich brown color 

 with velvety surface. It is only when the beetles become somewhat 

 abraded and this coating worn off of the elevations and the shoulders 

 and near the tip of the elytra that the callouses are formed, a character 

 upon which the specific named is based. Strictly speaking, the per- 

 fect insect has not been described, and it does not become "callosus" 

 until the insect has moved about and rubbed these points bare. 



The adults evidently hibernate to some extent in corn in the cham- 

 ber in which they have developed, but seemingly lower down than 

 in the case of SpJienopTiorus maidis. (See fig. 21 , c.) They were found 

 very sparingly, by Mr. James A. Hyslop of this bureau and by Mr. 

 R.I. Smith, of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment Station,, 

 occupying this position in the cornfields of Harveys Neck, previously 

 mentioned, on November 1, 1911. The numbers found, however, 

 were far too limited to indicate that this can be true of even the 

 majority, the others probably wintering over either in or near the 

 surface of the ground. This was in the same field where Mr. Walton 

 had fruitlessly searched for them on September 5 and 6. 



When we come to take into consideration the fact that the natural 

 coating with which the adults are covered is almost exactlv the color 

 of the soil, with which it is, indeed, more or less begrimed, and that 

 the insects on being disturbed will draw up their legs and remain as 

 ouiet as if dead, it will be seen that it is exceedino-lv difficult to detect 

 their presence in or on the surface of the ground, even by an expert 

 who knows exactly for what he is searching. Therefore that careful 

 search siiould not happen to reveal their presence is not especially to 

 the discredit of those who are engaged in trying to find them. 



