560 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXVI, No. it 
tin salve box, in which was placed a one-fourth inch layer of plaster of 
Paris, covered by a thick coating of India ink, and a small disk of dark- 
colored blotting paper slightly smaller than the diameter of the box. 
The newly hatched larva when isolated in such a cage, having the plaster 
of Paris slightly moistened, and with split wheat grains for food, appeared 
to thrive normally to pupation at an even temperature of about 6o° F. 
as long as the moisture therein could be kept properly regulated. Curi¬ 
ously enough, soil in the cage was not an absolute essential. It was 
found that normally there are six instars. The length of these instars, 
according to records made daily from observations upon the survivors 
of 50 isolated specimens, averaged as follows: From hatching to first 
molt, about 6 days; from first to second molt, about 10 days; from 
second to third molt, about 21 days; from third to fourth molt, about 
26 days; from fourth to fifth molt, about 14 days; from fifth to sixth 
molt, about 27 days; from sixth molt to pupation, about 18 days. 
It was found, however, that the length of the period between instars was 
often prolonged because of temperature, hibernation, moisture, quantity 
of food, and other like factors. 
Many of the larvae in the field reach the fourth or fifth instar during 
late fall and overwinter in that condition. During this period they 
penetrate to considerable depths in the soil, feed but little, and are com¬ 
paratively inactive. Commencing early in March, if the spring is a 
normal one, they feed until ready to pupate. Just before pupation the 
larva prepares its earthen cell and enters upon a semiquiescent stage 
which continues from 4 to 10 days. 
The period of pupation lasts for approximately 17 days, after which 
the adult emerges. It is comparatively inactive for a short time after 
this until its chitin has turned from pale brown to black and has become 
harder. The recently emerged adult is always brighter and has a deeper 
gloss than an older one. Mating most frequently takes place about 6 
or 7 days after issuance from pupation, and egg laying begins about 20 
to 22 days thereafter. There is seldom much variation in the method of 
oviposition; the female burrows into the soil to a depth of approximately 
three-fourths to 1 inch, loosens up a tiny area of soil, and at intervals 
deposits there the eggs in bunches consisting of two or three to several 
dozen, within an area having a diameter of not more than 2 inches. The 
average number deposited by a series of 100 females, from which count 
was kept, was 108 eggs, while the maximum number deposited by a single 
female within this series was 335 eggs. When disturbed, the adult has a 
curious habit, common to other species of this group, of standing still, 
placing its head to the ground, and tilting upward the posterior portion 
of its body until it appears fairly to stand upon its head, and it 
remains motionless in that position for several minutes. By and by, if 
not further disturbed, it resumes its normal position and continues its 
activities. If sufficiently annoyed, it ejects in a lateral direction from 
anal glands a strong astringent fluid having a highly offensive odor and 
evidently protective in function. Gissler ( 10 ) in 1879, in discussion of 
another species of Eleodes of similar habits, first described this secretion 
and the glands from which it is ejected. 
The adult, being crepuscular, reaches its period of greatest activity 
during the cooler portion of the day, in early morning, in late evening, or 
during twilight hours, and like other nocturnal insects is not noticeable 
in fields during the brighter, warmer hours of the day except when 
deliberate search is made for it. It may then be found under grain 
