GROUND-SURFACE ACTIVITY OF COTINIS-NITIDA (L) (COLEOPTERA, SCARABAEIDAE, CETONIINAE) LARVAE IN AN OLD-FIELD HABITAT

Pitfall traps in operation for 14 consecutive months in an old-field h abitat in Washington County, Mississippi, captured 102 larval Cotinis nitida (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) during the period o f August to December. Head capsule measurements of the larvae indicate d that three instars were present, with their occurrence showing a sea sonal progression. Peak surface larval activity occurred in October an d November, with no larvae captured on the soil surface between mid-De cember and early August. Adult beetles were not detected by a variety of methods during the entire sampling period. Successional changes in the habitat may have influenced the observed pattern of beetle occurre nce and activity.