Pyralidse 
grown, invariably passes the winter protected in its case. At 
this season of the year it is always of a deep reddish-brown 
color. As the leaves expand in spring 
it rouses from its winter lethargy, 
and after ‘heaving anchor’—to use a 
nautical expression—by severing the 
silken connections of its case, travels 
in search of food, and having found 
it, secures its case again, and breaks 
its long fast. Toward the end of 
May it acquires its growth, wnen the 
earlier brown color frequently takes 
on a more or less decided deep green 
hue. It is a smooth worm with the 
head and thoracic joints as represented 
at c. The case at this time usually 
presents the appearance of Figure 228, 
a, being crooked and twisted like a 
little horn, gradually enlarging, cornucopia-fashion, from tip to 
mouth, and reminding one strongly of a piece of bird-dung. It 
is formed of the worm’s excrement and other debris, interwoven 
with silk, and is completely lined on the inside with a carpet of 
the last-named material. The worm leaves it for feeding pur¬ 
poses mostly during the night. The chrysalis is formed inside 
this case, and the moths commence to make their appearance 
during the fore part of June, and later as we go farther north.” 
The insect feeds principally upon the Rosacece, and is very 
injurious to orchards, attacking apple-trees, plums, quinces, cher¬ 
ries, and certain varieties of pears, especially the Seckel pear. 
Genus AMBESA Grote 
(1) Ambesa laetella Grote, Plate XLVIII, Fig. 16, $. 
The moth is not uncommon in Colorado, Wyoming, and 
Utah. It is found in the sage-brush in August. 
Genus MELITARA Walker 
(1) Melitara fernaldialis Hulst, Plate XLVIII, Fig. 8, $. 
The insect is not at all uncommon in Arizona, and is also said 
to occur in Mexico. 
410 
