68 Bulletin 64. 



Trap Lantern Record. C. ruricolellus, 1889. 



Male.... 

 Female . 



As in most species, a large preponderance of males is here 

 noticeable. 



When first laid the eggs are creamy white in color ; the)^ grad- 

 ually turn to an orange buff color, and hatch in about twelve 

 days. The young larva has a black head and a brick red body. 

 For about ten days the larvae appeared to eat very little; possibly 

 they did not like young timothy {Phleum praetensis). After a 

 time the grass was eaten with avidity ; clover was left untouched, 

 while sheep sorrel {Riimex acetoselld) was eaten. When not feeding 

 the larvae remained close to the stalks of grass or attempted to 

 hide under the sheath. Where there is old growth the larvae 

 frequently bore through the stalks or leaves ; in these places they 

 soon spin a web which conceals them more or less completely. 

 When disturbed the larvae coil into a helix if on a leaf; if close to 

 a good retreat they quicklj'^ disappear among the grass stalks. 

 As cold weather comes on the larvae feed more during the day. 

 Late in the season, about the middle of October, the larvae disap- 

 pear from the leaves and the base of the stalks, and construct 

 snug retreats just under the surface of the .soil. The soil is pushed 

 up into a crumbly mound under which the larva forms a silk-lined 

 cavity. The entrance to these nests is usually by a tunnel or 

 covered passage way about half an inch long. The nests are fre- 

 quently constructed around the base of several stalks of grass, 

 which the larv^ae eat off at their leisure. These nests were made 

 among young grass where there were no dead leaves, etc. In old 

 sod similar nests are constructed, except that the outside of the 

 nest is strengthened with bits of grass and other material. As 

 the season advances the larvae become darker colored till their 

 bodies are almost a brownish black. On the approach of cold 

 weather the larvae feed less and less and finally retire for the 

 winter ; at this time they average about one-fourth of an inch 



