166 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. [April, '08 



dicated by a short brown seta. Anal segment a little darker 

 dorsally than ground color. Pupa is normal, light brown. 



Food plant: Vernonia, Iron weed. 



The food plant of 6\ bassiformis is given in the literature 

 as Enpatorium purpnrcum Linn, or Joe-pie weed. This plant 

 has been extensively explored by Mr. Bird, Mr. Merrick and 

 the writer. While it is by no means free from insect depre- 

 dations we have not observed it infested by the larva of bassi- 

 formis in this section. 



Sesia pyralidiformis Walker. 



This modest little species was encountered in a pasture field 

 while I was searching for bassiformis on a very hot day in 

 August, 1906. It was slowly flying along near the ground 

 and settled on a dead daisy head. Several specimens were 

 taken that day and a few more during later visits. All the 

 specimens occurred in a comparatively small area which led 

 me to the conclusion that its food plant would be among the 

 plants in this field. About a month after I had taken the last 

 specimen I went to this place and looked for its probable food 

 'plant. The only plants of any prominence were iron weed and 

 boneset. As the former had disclosed a borer I commenced 

 splitting the stems of boneset and soon observed the very neat 

 gallery of a larva leading into the roots. Many plants were 

 found to be infested but these larvae were quite small, and 

 after testing patches of boneset in different localities and find- 

 ing these plants infested almost everywhere I concluded to 

 wait until the following year to continue my observations. 



During July, 1907, I discovered a patch of boneset in a 

 field near New Brighton, Pa., in which about one-half of the 

 plants harbored a larva. Several dozen plants were trans- 

 planted in a breeding cage, and on August i8th Sesia pyrali- 

 diformis disclosed its identity. About 30 specimens emerged 

 from these plants, all appearing from 8-10 A. M. Copula- 

 tion took place about one hour after emerging and lasted from 

 i to 2 hours. 



The images were very abundant in the locality where I 



