On Certain Grass-Eating Insects. 



77 



Fig. H.—ATes/ of 

 larva. C. albel- 

 lus, enlarged 



The eggs hatch in about ten days. The young larvae soon con 

 struct cylindrical nests (Fig. 8), which are mostly 

 above ground and are lined with silk, while the 

 outside is strengthened with irregular bits of grass 

 or particles of soil. The larvae remain in these 

 retreats when not feeding, and frass is allowed to 

 collect at the bottom of the nests. If a larva is 

 removed from its nest it soon constructs another. 

 Several larvae were observed to voluntarily forsake 

 their nests and build elsewhere, which was prob- 

 ably due to the accumulation of frass in the old 

 nest. The larvae feed mostly upon the common 

 grasses. As cold weather advances the nests are built higher and 

 more grass or other material is fastened to the outside of the 

 nests. Finally, in November, just before retiring for the winter, 

 the larvae close the tops of their nests with grass and a web, and 

 hibernate in these retreats. 



Egg. — Creamy white when first laid, gradually turning to a pale straw 

 color before hatching. Form nearly oval ; size .39 mm. by .33 mm. The 

 egg-shell has eighteen longitudinal ridges and numerous smaller transverte 

 ridges. PI. XII., Fig. 20. 



Larva, first stage. — Head diamter .175 mm.; body diameter .125 mm.; 

 length .75 mm. General color a smutty white, head darker, and thoracic 

 shield a little darker than the body. Scattered brown hairs occur on the 

 head ; rows of numerous small tubercles occur on the body. Fig. 4. 



24. The White Striped Cram bus. 



Crambus alboclavellus. 



PLATES IV., X., XIV., Fig. 24. 



This species is very common in Ithaca. The moths fly mostly 

 the latter part of the afternoon and during cloudy days ; they do 

 not fly much after dark, as the trap-lantern record shows. 

 Trap Lantern Record. C. alboclavellus, 1889. 



