April, '08] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 165 



burg, Pa., during the summer of 1906. Extensive pasture 

 fields, profusely covered with Iron Weed, are situated near 

 my home, and late in 1905, I examined many of these plants 

 and found the roots of a great many infested by larvae. 



During early August, 1906, I closely observed the Iron Weed 

 in a field every evening on my way home from work. I usu- 

 ally arrived there about 5.45 P. M. which would seem late in 

 the day for collecting Sesias. But this field had the benefit 

 of the late afternoon sun and on August I3th, I observed three 

 specimens and captured two of them. The following evening 

 and up to September 9th, numerous specimens were taken. 

 Images were on the wing from 10 A. M. to sunset. Pairs 

 were taken in copulation from noon to 6 P. M. In one in- 

 stance a female was observed to deposit an egg on the under 

 side of a leaf. The larva enters the stem from 1-3 inches 

 above base and bores down into the roots. Pupation occurs 

 in the galleries beneath the surface in the old part of the root- 

 stock, about the end of July. Period of flight, August 13* 

 to September I4th. 



In August and September, 1907, while employed at the 

 Merrick Museum, New Brighton, Pa., I collected several 

 dozen specimens in the vicinity of that town. By October 

 22nd, several frosts had occurred and the Iron Weed plants 

 were killed. I took up several infected root-stocks and found 

 the larvae in various stages of development, ranging from 12- 

 18 mm. long. The following description was taken from the 

 larger larvae. 



Length, 18 mm., head 1.60 mm., wide, bilobed, light chest- 

 nut brown. Mandibles and ocelli dark brown. Front of 

 head sparsely covered with light brown hairs. Thoracic shield 

 pale brownish. Body semi-translucent, watery white. A 

 brownish dorsal shade broadening on the somites and in the 

 intersections. An indistinct whitish stigmatal line. Spiracles 

 oval, light brown. Thoracic legs concolorous, clouded with 

 pale brown outwardly. Abdominal legs concolorous, claws 

 circular, light chestnut brown. Tubercles not prominent, in- 



