THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 131 



Hydra'cia necopifia, Grt. 



The early history of this species seems never to have been v^^orked 

 up, and the mature insect is rarely seen in collections. Jt has never been 

 taken at light or sugar during thirty years that lepidopterists have 

 collected here. In passing it may be remarked that there has been no 

 instance in my experience where a Hydrcecia (from inqucesita to the end 

 of the list) has been taken at sugar. The insignificant tongue would 

 indicate a limited food supply being taken, and should offer an argument 

 that they are not hibernators. Some years ago the insect was met in its 

 early stages. Fifty or more pupae have been gathered each succeeding 

 year, but it still remains for me to see the moth in flight. 



The food plant is wild sunflower ( Helianthus J, which grows 



in abundance at Rye. This plant thrives where the uplands and salt 

 marshes meet, growing up many successive years from the same root, so 

 that a locality once infested may be counted on to furnish examples for 

 many seasons still to come. As this species of sunflower, which is quite 

 close to the artichoke, grows six or seven feet high, there is ample 

 opportunity for extended mining. The insect, however, only operates at 

 the base of the stalk, and its work causes a gall-like excrescence to form 

 that is about twice the diameter of the plant. This does not affect the 

 growth, however, and one must examine for the galls, which is an easy 

 matter in searching for this species. If the time for pupation has arrived 

 an opening for the moth's exit will have been made. This is the 

 caterpillar's last act preparatory to changing, and the presence or absence 

 of this exit aperture, if after the time pupal change should occur, indicates 

 whether you are dealing with a healthy or an ichneumonized example. If 

 the larva has become a prey to some of its parasitic enemies its life will 

 have ended before it reached full growth and no exit opening will be 

 made. Necopma is a better artisan than cataphrada in hanging a 

 protective lid at the exit door. This opening has to be of good propor- 

 tions, and the larva eats away the substance of the stalk to the epidermis, 

 making slight perforations through the latter around the edge. The 

 epidermis on drying shrinks and hangs hinged at the top where no 

 perforations were made. As a matter of fact, you will seldom find this lid 

 intact, especially if it is much after the pupal change ; the reason for 

 this being the host of visitors that seek shelter within these burrows. 

 Those ubiquitous myriapods which pass muster under the common name 

 " sow bug " are the most numerous. To these may be added leeches, 



