THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



27 



ON SOME OF OUR COMMON INSECTS. 



12. THE AMERICAN COPPER UNDER WING- 

 Ai)ipJiipyra pyra7nidoides, Giien. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



This insect is a troublesome one in many parts of our province, and 

 Ts yearly increasing. It first attracted attention by its depredations on 

 the foliage of the vine, but now, with us, while it is still a plague in the 

 vinery, it is more abundant on plum and apple trees, and is also common 

 on the thorn. It has been known in popular language as " the pyramidal 

 grape vine worm " on account of the larva having a pyramidal hump 

 near the end of its body ; also as " the green grape vine worm," in 

 consequence of the larva being of a green colour, but since it is not by 

 any means restricted to the grape, we prefer the common name placed at 

 the head of this article — " the x^merican copper underwing " — given to it 

 because the hind wings of the moth are of a lustrous copper colour. A 

 very similar moth, Ajiiphipyra pyramided, Linn., is common in Europe, 

 the larva of which feeds on the oak, elm, poplar and other trees, and since 

 this insect is known in England as " the copper underwing,'' we think 

 'the common name we have referred to, which was first suggested by Mr. 



^' Riley, is a very appropriate 



one for our species. 



The larva, of which a very 

 good representation is given 

 in figure 3, first attracts notice 

 early in June, when it may be found about half grown and feeding 

 vigorously ; by the middle of the month it has usually attained its full 

 size, when it measures from one and a quarter to one and a half inches in 

 length. The head is rather small, flattened in front, and of a whitish 

 green color, with the mandibles tipped with black. The body is of a 

 delicate whitish green, a little darker on the sides, with a white stripe 

 down the back, a little broken between the segments and somewhat 

 widened behind. On each side, close to the under surface, there is a 



Fis 



