MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 301 



before changing, but the younger larvae have the somewhat slimy sur- 

 face and other less definite characteristics which the experienced ob- 

 server at once recognizes as peculiar to the leaf-feeding Pyralids^ 

 When ready for transformation, the larva cuts a circular hole through 

 the side of its case and lets itself to the ground, where it forms from a 

 leaf a spacious, oval tent which it lines with silk, or more frequently 

 the leaf will be attached to the lower part of the trunk of the tree or 

 some other flat surface, and will then be in the form of an egg-shell 

 divided ia half longitudinally and applied by the edges. In the rear- 

 ing cages, these large, low tents were affixed to the glass by numerous 

 stitch like bands of silk, and the glass was so thinly coated with web 

 that the larva or pupa within was but slightly obscured from view. 

 The pupa averages 16^"^ in length, is rather stout for a Pyralid, of a 

 shining red-brown color, sometimes tinged with olive. Pupae were first 

 observed on July 9, and the moths began to emerge on the 25th of the 

 same month, and continued coming out in the rearing cage until the 

 10th of August. 



This species is one of the largest and handsomest in the groupy 

 having a wing expanse of from 1 to If inches (25 to 35"""*), and being 

 more lustrous and variegated in coloring than is usual among its leaf- 

 feeding allies. 



The second ( or it may have been the third ) brood of the larvte 

 appeared on the trees about the middle of September, and, singularly 

 enough, from one to three of them, still very small, were often found in 

 the large cones deserted by the preceding brood. In the rearing cages 

 they developed very irregularly, one or two moths appearing early in 

 November, while others that were, perhaps, somewhat underfed are 

 fetill reposing in their cases unchanged. 



No parasites were bred except a Tachinid of the genus Parexorista. 



Spraying was not resorted to this year, but will be practiced should 

 the insect again appear in injurious numbers, as it is -evident from 

 tests on a small scale that a very small proportion of Paris green in 

 water is quickly fatal to it. 



Insecticides. — In the Missouri Botanical garden, when necessary to 

 spray fruit or other trees, the arsenites were this year in many cases 

 combined with the most approved fungicides, and I was assured that 

 the latter were quite as effectual against vegetable parasites when 

 thus associated, while the lime and copper compounds seem to prevent 

 that scorching of the foliage which frequently attends the application 

 of the simple arsenites and water. A number of nurserymen and 

 orcbardists of my acquaintance have used the same combination when 

 spraying, and claim great success in it. 



