306 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



H. Brainerd, Winn, Norris, and ihe vviitei,, the first named in some num- 

 bers, among which appeared an interesting variety in which the white 

 markings were obsolete, but I secured only one, which was of the normal 

 type. 



This same species was found by Dr. Fletcher and Mr. Young at 

 Ottawa in 1902 and 1903, the latter observer also breeding the unmarked 

 variety, and these various breedings were duly recorded under the name 

 Cerussata in Dr. Fletcher's valuable " Record" in the Annual Reports of 

 the Ent. Soc. Ont. for 1902 and 1903. 



In spite, however, of Mr. Bird's opinion, 1 had my doubts as to the 

 status of the Meadow Rue form, and determined to clear the matter up if 

 possible in 1904, Mr. Bird very kindly presenting me with an inflated 

 larva of Cerussata for comparison. Search was accordingly made in com- 

 pany with Mr. Norris on 17th July, when ten Meadow Rue Borers were 

 secured by me, some through the generosity of my companion. 



These proved to be the most easily reared larvse in this genus that I 

 have ever had, one larva only dying a natural death, though one was 

 kindly turned into an inflate for me by Mr. Arthur Gibson. 



The root seemed to keep in good condition a long time, and did not 

 have to be changed. The one that died was the last, and by that time 

 the root had become a little mouldy, which probably accounted for the 

 fatality. They were slow about pupating, but seemed quite happy in their 

 burrows ; they ate comparatively little, and the frass was in very minute 

 grains like sand. They closed the openings to their burrows with a plug 

 of silk and frass, and if I took this away to ascertain how they were 

 getting on, and if pupation had taken place, it was renewed as soon as 

 possible. On account of this secretive habit I failed to obtain exact data 

 as to the length of the pupal period. These larvte were at once seen to 

 differ very markedly from the inflated specimen of Cerussata given me by 

 Mr. Bird, but as I was anxious to compare the living larv?e, I appealed to 

 that gentleman for larvae of Cerussata, and he very kindly sent me four. 

 I thus found that the species were absolutely distinct; indeed, the larva of 

 the Meadow Rue Borer is much more like that of Macronoctua Onusta 

 than that of Cerussata. Indeed, so like the former is it that Mr. Gibson, 

 who had bred that species from the roots of Iris at Ottawa, at first thought 

 it was the same. On account of what Mr. Gibson wrote, I went out with 

 Mr. Norris on the 31st July to look for the larva of Onusta in the roots of 

 Iris, and succeeded in finding three. 



