LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS: THE ADULT. 101 
away in making the crescent was eaten, just as was done in excavating the egg cavity. 
The crescent completed, the insect walked away, drew the legs closely under the 
body, and settled down, apparently to sleep. The time occupied in the process 
described was distributed as follows: 
Minutes. 
Excavating egg cavity 9 
Deposition of egg 1 
Rest 2 
Cutting the crescent 3£ 
Total 15* 
The egg cavity was cylindrical, with a rounded bottom, and by measurement was 
found to be 0.04 inch in depth. The egg when deposited very nearly filled the 
cavity. 
The second observation of the complete process was nearly identical with the one 
described. The insect spent no time in choosing the exact spot, but went to work 
at once. It worked in a more leisurely way and did not excavate as deep an egg 
cavity. Eleven minutes were spent on the cavity, 2 minutes in depositing the egg, 2 
minutes in rest, and 4 minutes in cutting the crescent, a total of 19 minutes. The 
egg cavity measured 0.035 inch in depth and was completely filled by the egg. On 
completion of the process the insect moved a short distance and immediately began 
a second cavity. 
Essential differences from procedure in the two preceding cases were noted in the 
third complete observation. Excavation of the egg cavity was the same, except that 
it was deeper in the pulp and of greater depth. After depositing the egg the beetle 
turned and with her beak worked the egg back to the bottom of the cavity. Then 
she began tearing off bits of skin and pulp, which were carefully packed in, above the 
egg, until the cavity was full. Following this, the crescent was cut in much the same 
manner as in the preceding cases. Then she appeared to make a final inspection, 
and added some further packing above the egg. Finally the work appeared to be 
satisfactory and she walked away and began a second puncture. The time consumed 
in this process was longer than in the others, and was divided as follows: 
Minutes. 
Excavating egg cavity 12 
Depositing egg H 
Placing the egg with the beak 2 
Packing the cavity 4 
Cutting the crescent 4 
Finishing touches 3 
Total 26* 
Mr. Johnson observed the operation of egg laving in 1905 at 
Youngstown, N. Y., in a Niagara plum, from which the calyx had 
recently fallen. The excavating of egg cavity, placing of egg, packing 
of cavity, and cutting the crescent was done without a pause and 
occupied 10 minutes. 
According to the observations of Mr. J. H. Beattie at Fort Valley, 
Ga., in 1905, a beetle was occupied 1 minute in making the egg 
cavity in a plum, after which, turning around, it deposited an egg 
in about 5 seconds, a few seconds more being required in pushing 
the egg into the cavity. However, in cutting the crescent 6 minutes 
were occupied, a total of a little more than 7 minutes. 
