The Cigar-case Bearer. 297 



separated by narrow ridges (Fig. 64). They are cylindrical in 

 shape with rounded ends, and measure .31 by .25 mm., 

 thus being scarcely visible to the unaided eye. Under 

 a lens they are beautiful objects. The egg stage lasts 

 about two weeks, the little caterpillars emerging about 



July 15th. 64. — The egg; 



Mining Habits of the Recently Hatched Caterpil- fledr ^ '"*s°*- 

 lars. — The newly-born caterpillars are miners, and at once eat 

 through one skin of the leaf and begin^a mine in the soft inner 

 tissue. They keep their mines clean as they go, by throwing all of 

 their excrement out of the entrance hole. They continued to feed 

 in this manner for about two weeks, or until August 3d, in our 

 cages ; then, owing to our inability to keep their food fresh any 

 longer, they died. 



Construction of their Winter Suit or Case^ and the Full Migr ac- 

 tion of the Caterpillars. — After feeding as miners for two or three 

 weeks, the young caterpillars exercise their tailoring instincts by 

 constructing tiny curved cases in which they are to pass the win- 

 ter. One of Mr. Fletcher's correspondents saw many of these little 

 cases on the leaves on August 10th. We have not been able to 

 catch the little tailor at its work of making its winter suit ; but Mr. 

 Fletcher says they cut clean holes through the leaves by taking oval 

 pieces from the upper and lower skins of the leaves with which 

 they form their curious cases by joining them together along their 

 edges. Doubtless the process is similar to the one used in making 

 the summer cigar-shaped cases, as shown in Fig. 61. These small 

 curved cases (Fig. 59) also have an opening in the upper end out of 

 which the caterpillars eject their excrement. 



Probably they feed for several days on the leaves after they 

 make these curved cases. About September 1st, migration begins 

 from the leaves to the twigs, where they securely fasten their cases, 

 which then serve as snug, warm and secure quarters for the winter. 

 Many of these hibernating case bearers are shown in Fig. 59. 



Briejiy summarized, the life history of this case bearer is as 

 follows : The insect spends about seven months (from September 

 15th to April 15th) of its life in hibernation as a minute half-grown 

 caterpillar in a small case attached to a twig (Fig. 59). In the 

 spring, the caterpillars attack the opening buds, the expanding 

 leaves, the stems of the flowers and fruit, and the forming fruit 



