1922 ] 
A T otes on the Puffball Beetle. 
93 
On September 5, several adults of Ccenocara oculata were 
noted with their bodies projecting slightly from small circular 
holes in the walls of the fungi. Upon cutting such fungi open, 
they were found to contain, in addition to the blackish, powdery 
mass of spores, numerous full grown larvae some of which had 
constructed pupal chambers or cells. One puffball contained 
fully 100 larvae. Many of the larvae pupated by September 9 
and on September 22 fully colored adults were found in the 
cells. 
When full grown each larva constructs an oval cell in the 
spore mass. These are about 4 mm., long and 2 mm., wide and 
many are attached to the inner side of the peridial wall. Pupation 
takes place in these cells and when the adult is ready to emerge 
it simply eats through the wall of the fungus. Upon examining 
these exit holes it will be found that they are shallow and extend 
in only to the depth of the pupal cell. The larvae undoubtedly 
do most if not all of their feeding in the fungus when it is young 
as at this time, the interior is' solid and fleshy. When ripe, the 
spore mass is dry and powdery. 
Larvae. Length about 4 mm. Width about 1.5 mm. Form 
subcylindrical, tapering toward head, posterior end rounded, 
somewhat white grub-like in appearance. Body curved, almost 
semicircular in outline. White except for brownish mouth parts. 
Head small, subcircular, bearing minute hairs; collum absent; 
antennae single jointed, minute, almost obsolete; ocelli absent; 
cranial sutures indistinct; gula membraneous; ventral mouth 
parts fleshy. Clypeus and labrum distinct, former transverse, 
latter small, semicircular bearing several minute hairs on anterior 
edge. Mandibles comparatively large, heavy, broad across 
base, narrowing toward tip which is strongly bifid. Lacinia and 
galea distinct, well separated, each bearing chitinous hairs; 
maxillary palpi two-jointecl, second joint tapering and twice as 
long as the first; labium with mentum and submentum indis- 
tinct; labial palpi two-jointed. Body segmentation indistinct; 
body bearing numerous minute hairs and irregular transverse 
rows of larger hairs on raised dorsal folds of thoracic and ab- 
