THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 281 



Other insectivorous marauders, but observations so far have noticed 

 no such depredations. Though parasitic troubles seemed few, a good 

 proportion fell victims to a fungous growth, this latter often assuming 

 fantastic shapes as its development encloses the chrysalis. It may be 

 that this fungus is not directed primarily against the insect, as its growth 

 was often seen lining the whole interior of the burrow with a fine network 

 of fibrous tendrils, and in many cases the ripe pupa, very much alive, 

 was wriggling around upon a bed of this material. It was this feature, 

 that of seeing a live pupa in direct touch with such apparent contamina- 

 tion, which seemed remarkable, for in all previous experiences where any 

 mould or mildew was to be noted about a burrow the pupa would always 

 be as dead as the proverbial door nail. 



Eggs were obtained October 9th from females confined with the 

 growing plants, and were practically identical with those of rutila, except- 

 ing the colour shades to greenish rather than to yellow. They are deposited 

 in rows or clusters of a dozen or more, and, like that species, gave up the 

 young larv!!B in the late fall; just when, will have to be determined 

 another year. 



Mature larva : Size is small and at once separable from the other 

 closely allied species. Its colour, a flesh tint, is purest white on the first 

 three segments, and there is not the semi-transparency so usually noted. 

 Head is of moderate proportions, a shining red russet in colour, and lacks 

 the black side dash ; measures .09 inches. Shield is lighter and yellowish, 

 strongly edged at the sides with black. Anal plate large, darker in colour 

 and blends with what is sometimes a preceding plate into one confused 

 area. The body, while of the usual cylindrical build, shows a perceptible 

 tapering on the last two joints. Tubercles prominent, shining black, and 

 stand out contrastingly as in purpiirifascia. On abdominal segments I. 

 exceeds II. in every case, and IV. is notably large. The position of the 

 latter on joint seven is high up above the corner of the spiracle, the 

 apparent root-boring characteristic. The setae are few and weak. 

 Thoracic feet black, as are the crochets of the abdominal ones. Mature 

 larva measures 1.3 inches. They change to pupse August 15 to 25. 



The pupa is of the usual glossy chestnut brown, very cylindrical ; 

 the indentations between the abdominal joints are slight; length .8 inch. 

 A noticeable feature is the very dark hue assumed by the wing-cases just 

 previous to emergence, the abdominal part retaining to the last the 

 original light shade. Moths emerge about September 30. 



