REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST 



471 



this stage, they became less active, and not rarely portions of the head 

 and thorax became incrusted with a thin layer of very fine particles of 

 sand. Several thus incrusted died, but not so many as to convince one 

 that this incrustation was the cause. Unfortunately all perished at 

 this time. 



Habits of the Larvae. 

 Throughout their different stages, the larvae usually harmonize with 

 their surroundings so closely that it is difficult to detect them. Fre- 

 quently a slight motion of the earth is the first indication of their 

 presence. They burrow in the earth, and remain underground much 

 of the time. Many burrows ran less than one inch below the surface, 

 although a few extended to a depth of three or four inches. The larva? 

 may be fed readily upon raw meat placed upon the surface of the ground. 

 Some time after placing the meat in the cage, they may be found under 

 it, frequently in a more or less cell- like depression. When in such a 

 position they rarely try to escape, but trust to their protective resem- 

 blances, and remain motionless. Around the' edge of the piece of meat 

 and also under it, the mouths of burrows may be seen and in them the 

 heads of larva?; when in such positions they dodge back quickly at the 

 least disturbance. Unless the meat is moved very cautiously the bur- 

 rows will appear empty; but if quiet is maintained for a few moments, 

 the heads will soon be seen. The burrows opening under the meat fre- 

 quently come to the surface a little distance awa} r , and it is quite easy 

 to drive a lar^a out of its back-door. Not infrequentl} 7- they have been 

 observed to emerge from a burrow for their feeding. This usually oc- 

 curred in the afternoon. On one of these occasions a little fellow was 

 watched through a simple lens. It was interesting to see him bite off 

 a piece of meat and swallow it with every evidence of satisfaction. 

 The antenna? were moved back and forth in a most appreciative way. 

 As the larva? increase in size, more burrows open upon the surface and 

 they are seen lying at their mouths. One time two were seen out of 

 adjacent burrows. The larger seized the smaller in the back and tried 

 to drag it down into its burrow. The smaller was unable to escape, 

 and when it was pulled away with forceps, the body- wall was rup- 

 tured. At another time a smaller active larva was seen to attack a 

 larger inactive one, whi. h, unable to resist, was bitten so severely 

 that the segment swelled considerably, but was not ruptured. 

 In a day or two the larger died and was fed upon by its former 

 persecutor. In several cages there was a marked decrease in the num- 

 ber of larvae. The foregoing incidents throw light on the mystery. 

 The weaker probably fell a prey to the rapacity of the stronger. The 



