THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 1 



•^ 



" Many naturalists have observed that the species of Solcnobia, one of 

 the Tineidae, have a most exceptional power of reproduction. The 

 maiden females of the genus lay eggs which can be hatched so as to 

 produce larvae, and a naturalist may breed a species for years without 

 seeing a male Solenobia. This extraordinary fact is not without parallel 

 amongst the Lepidoptera * * ^ and it is common among the 

 bees and the aphides." — Duncan's Transf, of Insects, p. 146. 



Note, — To many persons there will be, I hope, nothing new in the 

 above statement, but there are more to whom it will not only be new but 

 also incredible. In this connection I wish to state an occurrence, which, 

 although not quite conclusive in its character, may, if known, recall to 

 others similar occurrences with the same species, and they may have met 

 with more definite results. 



Two years ago, wishing to rear several broods of Eaclcs imperialism I 

 placed a female of that species in a favorable situation for attracting the 

 male. I had forgotten whether the male usually remained in the company 

 of the female for a long or a short time, and watched pretty closely till i 

 o'clock a. m., for the purpose of ascertaining that fact. 



I was much chagrined to find that at none of my visits was there any 

 male visible. I was up betwixt 3 and 4 o'clock, a. m., still no male ; and 

 at broad daylight the result was the same. The female had, however, laid 

 on the branches of the tree on which she was confined about thirty eggs, 

 and although I considered them worthless, I put them into a small box 

 without quite knowing why. I removed the female the next night to a 

 still more promising spot, hoping that the eggs remaining in her might still 

 be impregnated. No trace however of a male was visible, but, by the 

 next morning, she had laid a quantity of eggs Avhich I secured as 

 before. 



Every one of these eggs were fertile ; but now comes the curious part 

 of the matter. Every one of the larvae were of the dark brown variety, 

 not a green one amongst them. 



Now what I would like to learn is this : Does any one know of any 

 case in which imperialis has produced fertile eggs without male assistance 

 and, if so, what color were the larvae ? 



