Mar., 'lO] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS IO5 



The eggs of cerogama, rclicia, palaeogaina, ilia, and cara 

 were obtained by the junior author from moths captured the 

 summer before, in the neighborhood of Vinton, Iowa, while 

 double lots of eggs of ainatri.r and concumbens were furnished 

 by both the junior author and Mr. C. Leonhard, Kearny, X. J. 



The first eggs to hatch were those of ilia on May 2d, and, 

 despite the fact, the senior author kept the jars well filled with 

 fresh young leaves of both bur oak and chestnut oak, few of 

 the larvae reached the first moult. To all appearances they 

 traveled themselves to death and, with the exception of the 

 caterpillars of relicta, were the most active Catocala larvae the 

 author ever handled. The larvae of most Catocalae are very 

 active just after hatching, but those of relicta lose none of their 

 activity till well grown. 



The junior author had better success with ilia and secured 

 several chrysalids from larvae fed on bur oak and, on June 4th, 

 she found well grown larvae of this species lying in the grooves 

 of the trunks of bur oak trees, partly concealed by the shaggy 

 outer bark. Without concealment, these caterpillars would 

 probably be conspicuous in their light color, at maturity. Larva 

 rests with head upward. 



It seems that the oak-feeding larvae, as a rule, are much more 

 difficult to rear than larvae feeding on other plants, unless it 

 be the walnut caterpillars. Of course, Catocala larvae only are 

 meant. About half of the willow and poplar feeders are easy 

 to bring to maturity, all of the locust and most of the hickory 

 "worms." At least, this is the experience of the senior author. 



On the 4th of May the first cerogama egg hatched and the 

 little caterpillar was light smoky yellow with a black head. 

 Later, but before moulting, the body of the larva became quite 

 dark brown with black pro- and true legs. 



After first moult, but near the second, the caterpillar is light 

 brown, striped longitudinally with white. The head, gray with 

 black dots and marks while on the top of the last two abdomi- 

 nal segments are distinct black points or granules. True legs 

 dark, tipped with black. Pro-legs, flesh color. Between moults 

 in this larva the time is from four to five days. 



After the second moult the larva is short, thick, and much 



