948 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. V, No. 30 
FOOD HABITS OF THE EARVA 
From a close examination about Ithaca we failed to find the larvae 
present on any trees but the pin cherry. The few trees of this species 
located near the campus were swarming with the beetles and larvae. 
However, on the other food plants of the adult we found, late in the 
season, only a few beetles and no larvae. To determine whether the 
larvae could survive and reach maturity on the other species of Prunus 
the following experiments were performed: 
Experiment i. —On July 23 six larvae, some almost mature, were placed on the 
leaves of Prunus avium . Two died on July 25, two more on the 27th, and the remain¬ 
ing two entered the soil to pupate on July 28, the adults emerging on August 15. The 
immature larvae did not feed, but the nearly mature forms fed slightly before entering 
the soil to pupate. 
Experiment 2.—On July 23 two young larvae were placed on leaves of Prunus 
avium. Both died on the 26th without having fed at all. 
Experiment 3.—On July 27 three half-grown larvae were placed on leaves of 
Prunus virginiana. On the 28th all had left and entered the soil in an attempt to 
pupate. Later all failed to pupate and died. 
Experiment 4. —On July 27 five half-grown larvae were placed on leaves of Prunus 
virginiana. On July 28 one was dead and the others entered the soil. All failed to 
reach maturity. 
Experiment 5. —On July 28 three half-grown larvae were placed on leaves of 
Prunus serotina. All failed to feed and died on July 31. On the same day four more 
half-grown larvae were placed on leaves of P. serotina. All failed to feed and died on 
July 3°* 
It will be seen from the above experiments that the larvae seem to be 
unable to survive on either the cultivated sweet cherry {Prunus avium) 
or the common two native varieties P. serotina and P. virginiana . It is 
unfortunate that through an oversight experiments were not made with 
the other species of Prunus. The food plants of the larvae are undoubt¬ 
edly restricted at the present time to the wild red, or pin, cherry. Whether 
the larva can succeed in adapting itself to other host plants seems to be 
a doubtful question, so that in the future the abundance of the beetles 
will depend not so much on the presence of its enemies as on a goodly 
supply of the larval food plant. 
THE PUPA 
Pupation takes place at or slightly below the surface of the soil. 
No special preparation is made by the larva, the pupa often lying 
openly on the surface*in the grass or under rubbish. The pupa is bright 
yellow, strongly convex, without any distinguishing markings. Scat¬ 
tered over it are small, short brownish tipped setae, which aid in pre¬ 
venting injury from the soil. The tip of the abdomen is furnished with 
two diverging strong black spines (PI. LXIV, fig. 4). 
