isci.] 75 



MICRO-LEPIDOPTEROUS LARV^. 

 Notes on a few species, the imagos of which are probably undescribed. 



BY BRACKENRIDGE CLEMENS, .M. 1). 



I propose to describe, in the followinsi- ])ap('r. the mines ;ind larva; of a 

 few of our American leaf-miners, to indicate tlieir food plants and the 

 months in which they should be sought for by the collector. The observ- 

 ations are taken from my notes and refer to larvae I have not been suc- 

 cessful in rearing, or to those I have noticed out of season. 



In general, it may be said, the mines of the leaf-miners are character- 

 istic of the genus to which the larva may belong. A single mine once 

 identified, enables the collector to pronounce on the genus of all the species 

 he may find thereafter. This added to the ease with wliicli the larvfe are 

 collected, and the little subsequent care required to bring them to matur- 

 ity, except to keep the leaves in a fresh and healthy state, makes the study 

 of this group in every respect pleasant and satisfactory to the entomologist. 



I feel confident that many of our intellegent and painstaking collectors 

 would engage in the study with enthusiasm if once placed safely on the 

 way. I can see no surer course than commencing with the larva, assur- 

 ing the student that in such a month, on the leaf of a certain tree, he may 

 find the larva of a certain '' micro." The search for those indicated in the 

 present paper can scarcely fail to result in the discovery of many other 

 leaf-miners not alluded to here, and these will surely be taken and carried 

 home to asc6i"tain the appearance of the imago. With this comes a desire 

 to identify its genus and species and thus in a few seasons, or even in a 

 single one, the collector adds greatly to his stock of entomological know- 

 ledge. 



If the search for leaf-miners, is confined to forest trees, with which it is 

 probably best to begin, the most favorable localities, are the edges of a 

 wood or forest bordering on cultivated fields, patches of young trees often 

 found in fields or even isolated trees, and the borders of a wood along 

 streams. Some mines are most easily seen on the upjjer surface of the leaf, 

 and others most perceptible on the under surface, and those which are 

 transparent by placing the leaf between the sky and the eye. 



The collector should be supplied with a tin box or canister of conven- 

 ient size in which to place the mined leaves, separated from the tree at 

 the end of the stalks, to prevent them from withering. If the top fits se- 

 curely, leaves and parts of herbaceous plants may be kept fresh for several 

 hours. He will render good service if he describes in a note book, the 

 mine mid the larva, liotli of which should lie dotie with accurate minute- 



