182 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



NOTE ON THE LARV.E OF PENTHFNA HEBESANA, WALK. 



BY ARTHUR GIBSON, OTTAWA. 



During the winter of 1900-1901 the larvae of this pretty Grapholithid 

 were rather abundant at Ottawa, hibernating in the heads of mullein ( Ver- 

 bascum thapsus). Full-grown specimens were collected by the writer and 

 Mr. C. H. Young in April, which pupated in the office on and about the 

 25th April, the first moths appearing on the nth May, and the last 

 specimen emerging on the 22nd May. 



These larvae were found in the seed-pods, and had been feeding on 

 the seeds ; numbers were present in the same head. As far as the writer 

 knows, this is the first record, at least in Canada, of the caterpillars 

 feeding on mullein. Dr. Howard writes that Mr. Coquillett has reared 

 the species from Stachys palustris, and Mr. Chittenden from a species of 

 flag. He adds : "It evidently has several food-plants, and sometimes it 

 does injury to plants after they have been pressed for the herbarium." 



When mature the larva is 8.5 mm. in length, at rest ; when extended, 

 10.5 mm. The head is 1.0 mm. wide, jet black, smaller than segment 2, 

 rounded, flattened in front, furrowed at apex ; clypeus high ; setae pale, 

 darkened towards base, some of the hairs long and some short ; mouth- 

 parts brownish; antennae pale, darkened towards tips, pale at tips. Cervical 

 shield shiny, not so black as head, anterior portion slightly reddish, the 

 whole divided by a pale line. Body plump, cylindrical, dull copper colour, 

 with a faint dark dorsal stripe. Skin finely pitted. Spiracles inconspicu- 

 ous, ringed with black. Each segment has one distinct crease. Tubercles 

 rather faint, same colour as body, setae pale ; hair from tubercle i. short, 

 from ii. long ; tubercle i. anterior to ii., iii. in a line with ii. Anal plate 

 blackish. Thoracic feet shiny jet black ; prolegs concolorous with body. 



On the 24th March, 1902, two larvse were found in the seed-pods of 

 the above plant, but neither of these showed any trace of a dorsal stripe, 

 and their colour was more of a dull red, not so bright as those from 

 which the above description was taken. These two specimens were in- 

 side a thin cocoon of white silk, where they were doubtless awaiting the 

 return of warm weather before pupating. More larvae were collected 

 early in May, one of which was of a dull greenish shade, with the faint 

 dark dorsal stripe, hardly traceable on some segments. 



I am indebted, through Dr. Fletcher, to Dr. Dyar for the determi- 

 nation of this species. 



