The Cigar-case Bearer. 



295 



Why should the caterpillars always seek this particular portion 

 of the leaf from which to make their cases ? Mr, Stainton tells us 

 it is for the simple reason that the little tailor saves itself much 

 trouble by thus mining at the edge of the leaf, because the upper 

 and lower skins are already joined together along one side, the edge 

 of the leaf, and the inaking of one seam is thereby avoided.* 



At the uper end, these cigar- shaped eases are contracted rather 

 abrubtly into a three-lipped, star-shaped orifice, the lips of which fit 

 closely together. This orifice, or back door, is used for a special 

 purpose by the caterpillar, as we shall see later. 



Its Hcibits as a Cigar- Case Bearer. — Most of the caterpillars fin- 

 ished their cigar-shaped summer suits by May 25th, in 1894:. After 

 this date, they feed mostly on the leaves, and do their most damag- 

 ing work during the next three weeks. The peculiar manner in 



63, — A caterpillar feeding ; much enlarged. 



which they feed is well shown in Fig. 63. A small hole is eaten 

 through one skin of the leaf and the soft inner tissue is then mined 

 out. The caterpillar protrudes itself from its case and feeds as far 

 as it can reach in several directions, thus forming an irregular 

 blotch mine. The little miner never lets go of its case while at work, 

 and quickly wriggles back into it when disturbed. Many of these 

 blotch mines with their entrance holes are shown in figure 57. The 



* Natural History of the Tineina, by H. T. Stainton. Vol. iv, Coleophora, 

 parti, p. 8. (1859.) 



