STRAWBERRY ROOTWORM ON GREENHOUSE ROSES 17 
was thicker and contained small lumps, and which evidently served 
as a means of keeping the two surfaces between which the eggs were 
laid from pressing together and crushing them. 
The material forming this wall was translucent when secreted, 
but turned dark and finally black about three hours later. While 
the fluid was being spread the beetle rubbed its hind and middle 
tarsi together, apparently for the purpose of removing the sticky 
fluid which adhered to them. Although the legs were usually kept 
well braced, the beetle occasionally supported the turgid ovipositor 
with one of its hind legs. At times the ovipositor would be retracted, 
only to be immediately extended again. The beetle turned slightly 
several times to allow the ovipositor to reach a different spot, but 
all reaching was done by the ovipositor alone and there was no 
motion of the body which assisted in placing it between the leaf 
surfaces. In another instance an adult was observed to begin ovi- 
position at 7.15 p. m. and finish at 8.05 p. m., a period of 50 min- 
utes, during which four eggs were deposited. 
A few records of duration of the preoviposition and postoviposi- 
tion periods of strawberry rootworm beetles and of the number of 
eggs deposited are contained in Table 7. 
TABLE 7.—Duration of preoviposition and postoviposition periods of the 
strawberry rootworm beetle, 1921 
Date of— , Date of— 
Preovi- | Number | Postovi- 
position uel eggs : | _ position 
Emergence First egg| Period | deposite Last egg | Death | perlod 
| woaS) | | Ys 
RIUBTA Ce Gey oats Mises lp June20-__| 19 A OMe HIT yaar olga eereeruny sun aon | Sept. 6_- 
Dif eag lar yee Rtas aA ea July 27 30 OOH ANI RMB OM Aandi RT eer 114 
i pas Ue eee al apne Meyer ltl 30 ol | MA GOES 3 shal Bes ear ied June 261 318 
PH See SM bY NCR anaes rae, Aug. 8.-| 42 4 | Spare equal  hentetaars Saves ONCE ll Giae 72 
11922. 
The maximum number of eggs laid was 216, and these eggs were 
deposited by a beetle in 22 different egg masses in a period of three 
months after it was collected in the greenhouse. Several instances 
have been noted in which collected individuals have laid more than 
100 eggs. Observations on caged beetles under greenhouse conditions 
indicate an average of 185 eggs as the probable normal capacity of a 
female. 
EGG STAGE 
The egg (fig. 7.) of the strawberry rootworm beetle is pale lemon yellow 
when deposited and becomes slightly orange as it develops. It is elongate oval 
and very slightly arched. The cephalic end is somewhat blunter than the 
caudal end. The length is from 0.93 to 0.98 millimeters and the width from 
0.25 to 0.27 millimeters. 
In greenhouses the eggs are usually deposited on old dead leaves 
(fig. 4) more or less folded or curled. Although eggs have been 
found in such leaves on the soil, it is more than probable that they 
are laid before the leaf falls to the ground, since, where an infestation 
52018—26——3 
