I8Q5-] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 



THE MAGNOLIA-BLOSSOM TORTRICID. 



175 



Caccecia magnoliana Fernald. 

 By M. V. SLINGERLAND, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 



In June, 1891, Prof. W. W. Rovvlee, of the Botanical Depart- 

 ment, discovered that many of the blossoms on a cucumber-tree 

 {Magnolia acuminata) not far from the campus were being de- 

 stroyed by a caterpillar ; he had previously observed that this 

 tree seldom fruited fully. Several of the infested blossoms were 

 brought to the insectary, placed in cages, and the adult insect 

 reared. Dr. Fernald decided that it was a new species, and he 

 soon described the moth (See ''Canadian Entomologist," xxiv, 

 p. 122). The half-tone illustration of the moth here given 

 (natural size) will facilitate the determination of the species from 

 Dr. Fernald' s careful description. 



The caterpillars fed ravenously for several days after they were 

 put in the cages. They attacked all parts of the flower, but 



more especially the petals, which they 

 bored through and through as 

 shown by the holes in the blossom 

 (natural size) in the illustration. The 

 large thick petals were tied together 

 by numerous silken cords and the 

 caterpillars reveled within; usually 

 from one to three worms occupied a 

 blossom. 



By June 8, most of the caterpillars 

 had become full grown. They were 

 then of a light semi-transparent 

 green color, lighter on the venter. 

 Length, 20 mm. Head, consider- 

 ably narrower than the body and 

 light brown in color with black spots 

 caudacl of the black eye-spots. 

 Thoracic shield greenish black, 

 darker on the sides. Two black spots occur on the sides of the first 

 thoracic segment between the shield and the blackish legs. The 

 other four true legs and the five pairs of pro-legs are nearly like 

 the body in color. The body is sparsely clothed with long 

 whitish hairs arising from slight whitish elevations. The head 



