8 BULLETIN 251, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



dark brown; the dorsum of the last abdominal segment is chestnut- 

 brown. The two caudal appendages forming a part of the last 

 abdominal segment are short and quite erect, and are provided with 

 a large, stout, dorsal tooth and a smaller lateral tooth, both of which 

 bear spines. Length of time in the larval stage varies with the tem- 

 perature and food supply. The following record of 12 larvae which- 

 hatched June 20, 1908, shows the time spent in active feeding : 



Days. 



First larval stage 2 



Second larval stage 3 



Third larval stage 9 



Total I .__ 14 



The weather during this period was warm and the food supply 

 was ample. The time when larvae are found in the field is governed 

 largely by weather conditions in the spring, but ranges from June 

 25 to the middle of August. 



DISTANCE TRAVELED BY LARV.F]. 



As has already been stated, the larvae of the species are capable of 

 climbing trees, and this makes it possible for them to feed on cater- 

 pillars or pupae that may be present on the trunks or large branches. 

 In some cases molted skins of the. larvae have been found in large 

 trees at a height of 50 feet above the ground. 



An experiment was carried on in 1910 to determine the distance 

 that a newly hatched larva would travel if no food was supplied. 

 The experiment started at 8.30 a. m., July 13, and continued unin- 

 terruptedly for 72 hours. Apparatus was constructed to measure ac- 

 curately the distance traveled by this individual, which totaled 9,058 

 feet, or 1.78 miles. The weather was very hot during the time the 

 experiment was carried on, and neither moisture nor food was sup- 

 plied. 



FEEDING HABITS OF LARV-F,. 



The larvae feed both by day and by night, and are more active 

 when the weather is hot. As a rule, caterpillars are attacked from 

 the side or from beneath, and if the specimens are hairy the favored 

 place seems to be between the segments, where the larvae can more 

 readily pierce the integument with their sharp mandibles. Newly 

 hatched sycophanta larvae are able successfully to combat practically 

 all caterpillars, regardless of size. Many specimens are injured to 

 such an extent that they evidently die, and thus more caterpillars are 

 prevented from transforming than are actually eaten. The pupae 

 of lepidopterons, especially those that are not provided with a 

 cocoon, are particularly susceptible to attack by the Calosoma larvae. 



