Clje (foato (fetowrfogtsi 



Yol. II. TORONTO, APKIL 8, 1870. No. 6. 



NOTE ON AMPHIPTRA TRAGOPOGONIS, Linn. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



Ou the 6th of June, 1SG8, we observed for the first time a handsome green 

 caterpillar eating some lettuce that we were growing in our grapery; think- 

 ing that it could not very well escape we merely took a rough description, as 

 follows : — Sixteen footed caterpillar, about an inch long, pale green (almost 

 the colour of lettuce leaves) above, deeper green below; a white dorsal line, 

 two lateral white lines, the lower passing through the spiracles ; all five lines 

 proceeding from head to tail. Before we secured it, it did however escape 

 probably entering the ground. 



The following year, in June and early in July, we observed many similar 

 larvte on a number of different plauts, both in the garden and in the woods. 

 The following description of a nearly full-grown specimen was taken on the 

 3rd of July : — 



Length 100 inch. Colour beautiful apple-green. Head pale green, with 

 a dark spot on each side in front; dorsal, sub-dorsal, and spiracular lines, 

 narrow, pure white; the spiracular lines begin on the second segment, the 

 others on the third ; on all the segments except the head and second, there 

 are a few minute white granulations tipped with black, and terminating each 

 in a fine hair ; spiracles white ; feet green. 



On July 11th it formed a slight silken cocoon in the box in which it was 

 confined, having no earth to burrow into, and there assumed the pupa state. 

 The imago appeared on the 3rd of August, and proved to be a specimen of 

 Amphipijra trogopogonis, Linn. 



This excessively common moth, found all over the Province of Ontario, 

 and also in Quebec, appears to be an importation from Europe, where, accord- 

 ing to Guenee and Siuinton, it is very abui Its specific name is derived 

 from the Salsify, or Vcgetabie-oyster plant (Trogopogori), on which, as well 

 as on Spinach, Dock, and other plants, it fe rag to Fabricius. In 

 England it is called the ' Mouse' moth, either from its colour or its habit " of 

 creeping into houses, and secreting itself in blind?, and when dislodged, if it 



