145 
attracted to manured land when about to lay their eggs, or to 
that which has been heavily mulched or contains an unusual 
amount of decomposing vegetation.* Townsend has found them 
living in clean earth under circumstances to indicate a carniv¬ 
orous habit.t 
The life history of this insect is, as already intimated, differ¬ 
ent from that of Lachnosterna, especially in the fact that pupa¬ 
tion of the larva takes place in May, the beetles issuing in June. 
Its length of larval life is not known, nor the precise time or 
place of oviposition. 
The following description of the larva is taken from Dr. Riley.t 
“Full grown larva —Length, 40 millimetres, somewhat largest 
posteriorly, subcylindrical, broader at thorax and eighth and 
ninth abdominal segments, which are materially swollen. More 
flattened veutrally, with a distinct swollen lateral ridge just be¬ 
low the stigmata, which rather increases the flattened aspect of 
the venter. General color, glassy yellowish white, inclining to.* 
green or blue towards the extremity. Head, rather small, flat¬ 
tened, well inserted into the prothoracic segment, chestnut-brown 
in color. Dorsal surface of the body strongly transversely cor¬ 
rugate or wrinkled, each of the chief segments having three dis¬ 
tinct ridges, the whole body studded with short, thick, yellowish 
bristles, which are most dense on the dorsal ridges and more- 
sparse, but longer, on the ventral and anal segments. Dorsall.y 
these stiff hairs are directed posteriorly and materially assist in 
the dorsal locomotion, the legs are honey-yellow, covered with 
similar stiff bristles, without definite tarsal claw. They are 
short, compared with the larvae of Lachnosterna generally. 
Prothoracic segment with a honey-yellow horny plate in front 
of the spiracle, which, as usual, is rather larger than the ab¬ 
dominal spiracles. Mandibh s short, stout, dark brown, with the- 
left (looking from the dorsum) 4-dentate, and the right 3-den- 
tate. Antennae short, 4-iointed, joints subequal in length, dimin¬ 
ishing in width from 1 “to 4, maxillary palpi 3-jointed, joints 
subequal in length, terminal narrowest at tip. Labial palpi 
2-jointed, joint 1 longest, somewhat swollen at tip, and bearing 
a short pointed joint 2 on the inner side of its tip. Labium 
covered with short stout bristles. Maxillae with long, stiff bristles 
on the inner surface, and with two long, sharp, black teeth near 
the tip. 
“The half-grown larva does not differ in structure or colora¬ 
tion.” 
* Bull. 23 Md. Agr. Exper. Station, 1893, p. 79. 
+“Insect Life,” Vol. IV., p. 25. 
t Bull. 23 Md. Agr. Exper. Station, 1893, p. 80. 
-10 E. 
