3M THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



and adults, I suspect that the larval life will be found to extend over three 

 years at least. 



Habits of the Larva. — The early habits of the laruc have not yet 

 been discovered. The smallest specimens obtained by us dropped from 

 the roots or stems, and their location could not be determined. All the 

 larger larv;e were within the tunnels in the base of a stem, or in the main 

 stem mass. Each larva cuts a tunnel, seldom over six or eight inches in 

 length, nearly cylindrical, and of a diameter slightly larger than that of the 

 larva. The tunnels of all the larger larvie have the exit-hole, which is 

 usually below the surface of the ground, already cut a year or more before 

 the maturity of the larva. The tunnels end abruptly inwards, and are 

 sharply angled just within the exit-hole. 



The food of the caterpillar seems to be obtained entirely by enlarging 

 the tunnel ; short side tunnels are sometimes present. The relatively 

 small amount of food to be obtained in cutting such a tunnel would indi- 

 cate a long larval life. 



The burrow seems to be kept perfectly clean until near the time of 

 pupation. Then the larva frequently forms within the mouth of the burrow, 

 or in the loose soil just below the surface of the ground, a cylindrical cocoon 

 of pieces of decayed bark and roots fastened with silk, of which latter it 

 has a copious supply. All the cocoons found were open at the ends, not 

 over three inches in length, and usually somewhat larger at one end than 

 the other. Several pupae have been found within the tunnels without any 

 trace of a cocoon! 



The larvae are extremely active, and wriggle vigorously when 

 disturbed, emitting a large amount of dark brown saliva. They even 

 attempt to bite one's fingers when held, and although not very successful 

 in the attempt, their intentions are very evident. When disturbed in their 

 burrows they move backwards or forwards very rapidly. When allowed 

 to wander at will over a black cloth a thread of silk is seen to be spun 

 wherever the larva goes. The head is waved from side to side, and the 

 silk attached to the cloth at the end of each motion, thus leaving the silk 

 attached in a zigzag line. When left in a box with fresh roots and rub- 

 bish, the latter is soon interwoven with a web of silk, and the roots are 

 readily fed upon, an evident attempt being made to construct a tunnel. 



When kept in a tin box a larva would frequently produce a sharp 

 rattling sound, such as could be produced by a quick succession of blows 



