THK (JYl'SY MOTH- UTKMUX. <M 



ranker worms ( I'almrrihi vernota), May beetle ( ' L< /<//, ,,/.s- 

 /Vr//^ /ttsc<i\, eggs of tin- Kocky Mountain locust and nu- 

 merous cut-worms. 



Mr. F. II. Mosher informs me that lie has found the-e 

 larva- quite numerous during the past summer under bur- 

 laps on an estate in Brookline \vhieh was quite liadly 

 infected by the gypsy moth. AVithout doubt the>e in>ecN 

 would do a great amount of good by killing the gypsy moth 

 larva- which "would seek shelter below the burlap. If 1 1n- 

 habit of hiding in concealed places on trees, as under loose 

 bark, etc., is constant among these beetle lame, a great 

 many of the caterpillars as well as eggs of the gypsy moth 

 must be destroyed every season. In confinement I have 

 found that larvae of C. frigidum will feed quite freely on 

 the gypsy moth egg-clusters. 



The amount of food consumed by a larva of (7. fri<//</nu/ 

 in confinement was as follows : during the first stage one 

 small cut-worm, three second-molt gypsy moth larva) and 

 one third-molt gypsy moth larva ; second stage, two fall web 

 worms (ffypkantria cunea),oue larva ofDatana ministra, one 

 army worm (Leucania unipuncla) and one-half of a gypsy 

 moth egg-cluster ; third stage, two Datana integerrima, two 

 D. minixtm, one Atlacus promethea and six army worms. 



Under natural conditions this amount would be prob- 

 ably somewhat increased. The larvae also ate gypsy moth 

 pupa? quite readily, especially directly after pupation, be- 

 fore the bodies had become hard, the most favorable 

 place for attack on the hardened pupa- being a point at the 

 base of the wing-covers. 



The larvae are very ferocious, and do not hesitate to at- 

 tack a caterpillar on account of its size or strength. They 

 commonly grasp the victim by some of the ventral seg- 

 ments, and cling with great tenacity until the caterpillar 

 succumbs. If perchance the little larva is shaken oil', he 

 persistently renews his attack with greater xeal than before. 

 After succeeding in cutting a hole through the integument 

 with his sharp mandibles, he sucks in the vi-eem ( .t' hi- 

 prey and often becomes gorged almost to the point of burst- 

 ing. He next repairs a- rapidly a- hi> condition will allow- 

 to a place of shelter, for which loose leaves, ruhbi-h or 



