New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 257 
requires a month from the time it hatches to obtain its full size. 
In general, persons who have written anything regarding the 
striped beetle, since Dr. Shimer’s observations were made, have 
given the same period for the development of the larva. As shown 
by the author’s dissection of female beetles, the egg-laying period 
can extend from June 20 until the last of July. I have collected 
half-grown larvee as early as July 10 and found larvee still at work 
as late as September 17; hence, if the eggs are all deposited by 
the last of July, some of the larvee must require two months to 
complete their growth. Probably the length of the larval period 
depends on the food supply. 
F. H. Chittenden’ says: ‘ The larval period is passed in the 
earth, at the base of the stalks, and larve are often found within 
the stems above ground.” 
J have very rarely found the larve within the stems of musk- 
melon, which is apparently too woody for them to penetrate. 
They are frequently found in the stems of cucumber and squash, 
but I have not found them in such numbers in these places as 
upon the rind of the muskmelon fruit where the latter comes in 
contact with the moist earth. I have also found them working 
on squash and ripe cucumbers in the same places. In a few in- 
stances I have been seen them working on the lower surface of 
squash vines where the latter come in contact with moist earth. 
Close examination will reveal the fact that cucumber, squash, and 
melon vines appear to be eroded at other points besides where they 
are attached to the root and frequently the fruits will have the 
same appearance. ‘This is all caused, probably, by the larvee of 
the striped cucumber beetle and of the twelve-spotted beetle, 
where both occur. It surely is their work at the base of the 
plants and on the fruits of the muskmelon. [ence the statement 
that the larval period is passed in the earth at the base of the 
stalks is partially correct, but all facts would be covered better by 
TU. S. Dept. Agr., Div. Ent., Bul. No. 10, n. ser.: 28. 
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