86 



The species was mostly in the larval condition and the pupae found had 

 recently transformed. The roots of this plant are rather short, and the 

 larvae were for the most part within an inch or two of the surface of the 

 ground. Ten days later practically the same conditions were observed, 

 the species still being chiefly in the larval condition. One beetle fully 

 matured, however, was taken and one of the pupae found on a previous 

 occasion had begun to mature. 



The pupae did not attain maturity, but on July 22 a full-grown larva 

 was taken, which transformed to pupa that day and to adult on the 

 28th, having passed about six days in the pupal condition. The 

 weather was very hot during this period. On the day of its transfor- 

 mation the beetle was of a light yellow color. This changed to reddish 

 on the following day, and the normal coloration of the species could be 

 seen on the afternoon of the 30th. When next examined, August 1, it 

 was fully matured and actively running about in the rearing jar in 

 which it had undergone transformation. 



Monocrepidius bellus has not, to the writer's knowledge, hitherto been 

 noticed as injurious. Its larva and pupa are almost exact counterparts 

 in miniature of M. vespertinus, a common species southward in corn 

 fields. The larva when mature measures 6 to 6.5 mm. in length; the 

 pupa is of about the same dimensions as the beetle, 3.5 mm. long. 



OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS; SUMMARY OF INJURY. 



The Southern corn root- worm (Diabrotica 12 -punctata) was also found 

 in the larval stage, and beetles were taken that had just transformed 

 from pupae ; this observation adding a new larval food plant for this root- 

 worm. Young larvae of a species of Lachnosterna were also at the roots, 

 as was the larva of an Osciuid fly, Cklorops assimilis. These species, 

 with the addition of the chinch bug, which was present in all stages, 

 make a list of seven species of insects attacking this plant. It was the 

 worst injured of all the forage plants on the Department grounds, and 

 from this experience it would appear that this species of millet could 

 not be profitably grown in the States lying in the same life zone — the 

 Upper Austral — as the District of Columbia. 



The flea-beetles had done the most injury of all the insects enumer- 

 ated, the most obvious damage having been committed in their mature 

 condition. Unfortunately, owing to the bad condition of this particular 

 plat, the workman in charge cut down what remained of it after the 

 writer's first observations, and it was impossible to carry the matter 

 further. The wire worm larvae occurred in considerable numbers and 

 materially assisted in injury, and all the other insects, with the possible 

 exception of the Chlorops, are capable of much damage. 



