THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST, 



THE PLUM SPHINX MOTH. 

 Sphinx drupiferarum (Smith &' Abbott J. 



BY E. B. REED, LONDON, ONT. 



As this moth pretty generally makes its appearance in our plum orchards 

 from year to year, I have thought it advisable to give a short history of its 

 different stages for the benefit of our fruit-growers. 



It is a member of a family of moths to which the great naturalist Linnams 

 gave the name of iSphingidce, on account of the resemblance he conceived some 

 of their caterpillars bore, in certain positions, to the notorious Egyptian Sphinx, 

 and which our artist has faithfully represented in the engraving of the larva — 

 fig. 1. While the ravages caused by this caterpillar are fortunately not very 

 extensive, yet it generally appears in different localities from time to time in 

 numbers quite sufficient to cause considerable annoyance to the plum growers 

 of those regions. Its conspicuous size, when full grown, and its bright green 

 colored body, and mauve stripes, make it tolerably easy of detection; while the 

 leafless twigs, the result of the voracious appetite necessary to sustain its huge 

 carcass, are sure to cause the eyes of the observant fruit-grower to make diligent 

 search after this monster leaf-eater. 



The larva (fig. 1) is hatched from an egg deposited (probably) singly on the 

 under side of the leaf. 



Mr. Wm. Saunders has kindly allowed me to make use of his notes on the 

 appearance of the young larva?. 



On the 2nd of July, a pair of drupiferarum were brought to him which had 

 been taken in coitu. They were confined together in a seidlitz box. The next 

 day the female began depositing eggs, continuing to do so for two or three days. 



"Egg: Length -07 inch; slightly oval; surface smooth; color pale yellowish 

 green. In from 6 to 8 days,the young larvae made their appearance, having eaten 

 their way out through the side of the egg. In some cases one half or more of 

 the egg-shell was eaten; in others only a hole just large enough to allow of the 

 escape of the larva, while in a few cases it was almost entirely consumed. 



July 10. — Some out this morning, length -22 inch; head very large, rounded' 

 pale yellowish-green, with a few very short whitish hairs; mandibles tipped 

 with dark brown; body above pale yellowish -green, with a few whitish slightly 

 elevated tubercles on every segment, from each of which arises a single short 

 fine hair, those along each side of the dorsal line dark brown, the others yellowish 

 white. The tubercles are arranged in a double transverse row on the middle 

 and hind segments; caudal horn -10 inch long, nearly erect, black, thickly 

 covered with very short stiffish black hairs slightly furcate at the apex. Each 

 tip terminated by a pale brownish hair longer than the others; under surface 

 similar to upper." 



The larva,when full grown, measures about three or three and a half inches. 

 Its color is a beautiful apple green. The head is also green, with lateral dark 



