326 
The Ohio Naturalist. 
[Vol. XIV, No. 7 
by the dark cavity beneath. The plug often so closely resembles 
the surrounding surface as to be very difficultly distinguished, and 
some practice is required to locate these eggs. If more than one 
discharge is present, however, the plug is easily seen. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE EGG. 
The egg is a small, glistening, opaque, somewhat “pear-shaped” 
body of a creamy white color. The size varies somewhat, but the 
average dimensions are about .043 mm. long by .289 mm. in dia¬ 
meter at the largest part. It consists of an outer, comparatively 
tough membrane, filled with an opaque, sticky fluid. The large 
end of the egg is placed toward the inner end of the cavity, while 
the small end is attached to the plug in the mouth of the cavity, 
which does-not agree with the observations of Hinds and Turner 
(3) who describe the egg as having the “larger end outward as it 
rests in the grain.” On the small end of the egg is a small pro¬ 
tuberance that fits into the pit in the inner surface of the plug. 
DESCRIPTION OF THE CAVITY. 
The cavity is somewhat larger than the egg, there being an 
unoccupied space around the sides and bottom. The bottom is 
evenly rounded, the sides drawing gradually together at the mouth, 
the diameter of which is smaller than at any other part of the 
cavity. The mouth of the cavity being smaller than the larger 
end of the egg, it is necessary to enlarge the opening in order to 
remove the egg. 
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HABIT. 
It is interesting to conjecture the uses of this careful and 
laborious method of oviposition. The point of prime importance 
is that the eggs are placed in such a position that the larva: pro¬ 
duced are surrounded by an abundance of food, and are in a posi¬ 
tion where they are protected during the helpless period of life. 
By being deposited beneath the surface of the com, the eggs are 
protected to a large extent from external injury, from excessive 
drying, and from sudden changes in temperature. While serving 
tc increase the protection from external injury, excessive drying, 
and change in temperature, the sealing of the cavity is undoubtedly 
useful as a protection against predaceous and parasitic enemies. 
Incidentally, this, probably, is quite effective as a protection to the 
eggs and larvae against gases used in fumigation. 
As a protection against natural enemies, the plug is no doubt 
serviceable, but it is not an absolute, and possibly not a very highly 
efficient safeguard, for, while making these observations, the 
writer noted numerous instances in which the predaceous mite, 
Pediculoides ventricosus Newport (2), successfully attacked and 
