128 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



larva. Mature larva: Length, r.6 inches; very cylindrical. Colour 

 livid, mars brown ; darkest on first four and last three segments. Head 

 shining, brown ; mandibles black, as are the true legs. On side of head 

 is a black line which has a continuation on the thoracic shield. The 

 latter a lighter shade of brown than the head and merges into black where 

 it meets the line mentioned. A dirty white stripe extends along dorsum. 

 A similar stripe on subdorsum, but is lacking on first four abdominal 

 segments. On either side of this line on each segment are two minute 

 black dots, and two more near each spiracle that are also black. Anal 

 shield shining; dark brown. Begins to pupate August i6 ; to emerge, 

 September 1 2. There seems a variation in the larva of the form 7iebris, 

 but I am not prepared to speak with certainty concerning it at present. 



Pupa is cylindrical, longer than usual compared with its diameter, 

 varies greatly in size according to sex; the average is about .75 inch in 

 length. Cremaster not prominent, composed of two divergent spines. 

 Wing-cases slightly creased, moderately prominent. Colour light brown. 

 Pupa is always found below opening for moth's emergence, frequently 

 down at the bottom of burrow. 



Hydroecia cataphracta, Grt. — In the search for larvse here at Rye 

 this species is everywhere found in numbers. At light the imago would 

 be classed a rarity. Preferred food plants are burdock and thistle. Two 

 or three specimens are often found in the former plant, as the branches, 

 as well as the main stalk, offer sufficient substance for their work. When 

 working in thistle but one will be found. The presence of larva in 

 burdock can be detected quite easily by the unhealthy appearance of the 

 plant and by the evidence at the base of stalk. When in thistle the larva 

 keeps well up to near the top, for the plant becomes hollow from the 

 ground up to the main branches, but is solid above. Infested plants 

 mav be detected from afar by the top part of the plant having died and 

 fallen down to one side, the walls of the plant being so thin that the 

 larva's work has caused a collapse of the portion above it. Pupa will be 

 found near this break ; of course, always below. 



When a hole is made for the moth to escape, the inner substance is 

 eaten away to the cuticle. When this skin that is left dries it shrinks and 

 pulls away on one side, but still hangs as a screen against intruders. 



Besides ichneumon enemies, there are other casualties that affect the 

 mortality of this species to a considerable extent. When feeding in bur- 

 dock the plant frequently dies prematurely, and becoming dried, shrinks 



