ENTOMOLOGY. 367 



The pistol case bearer in western New York, M. Y. Slinger- 

 LANi) (Xew York Cornell Sta. Bui. 124, p. 17, Jigs. 2, pis. 2). — In this 

 popular bulletin it is stated that during 1806 Coleophora malivorella 

 appeared in large numbers in various apple orchards of western New 

 York, and proved to be a much greater pest than the cigar case bearer 

 (Coleophora fletcherella). It was not infrequently found feeding on the 

 same branch with the latter and with the bud moth ( Tmetocera ocellana). 

 The author briefly reviews the history of the pest and describes its 

 appearance and life history. In a footnote, a description of the larvae 

 differing from that by C. Y. Riley 1 is given as follows: 



"Length, 6 mm. Color, deep chrome or light orange; the thoracic segments are 

 darker, the first one blackish. Head, black, with a yellow median suture ; antennas, 

 yellow. Thoracic segments each with a blackish, granulate, chitinous spot on the 

 lateral ridge; the mesothoracic segment has besides 2 similar, narrow, triangular, 

 black, transverse spots, separated by a narrow yellow mesal line near its caudal 

 border, and there is a similar subdorsal black spot on each side near the cephalic 

 margin; the thoracic shield is large, black, and nearly divided by a narrow yellow 

 median stripe. The anal shield is also black. The true legs are black, with the 

 distal segment and the extremities of the other segments yellowish. The 4 pairs 

 of pro-legs are of the same color as the body, except the anal ones, which are slightly 

 darker and have a large black spot near the base of each. The whole surface of the 

 body is granulated, more strongly so on the thoracic and ana] segments. A few 

 hairs arise from the head, thorax, and anal segment." 



Iii the description of the adult, it is noted that both sexes are pro- 

 vided with a tuft of large scales on the dorsal antennal joint. This 

 differs from C. Y. Riley's 1 description, which stated that the male is 

 without such tufts. Summarizing briefly the result of his studies of 

 the insect's life history in Xew York, the author says: 



"The insect spends about 7 months (from September 1 to April 1) of its life 

 in hibernation as a minute, half-grown caterpillar in a small pistol-shaped case 

 attached to a twig. In the spring the caterpillars attack the swelling buds, the 

 expanding leaves, and especially the flowers. About May 1 the cases arc fastened 

 to the twigs, where they remain for 4 days, during which time the caterpillars 

 shed their skin or molt. They do not make any complete new suit as they grow, 

 but are content with making additions to the ends and side of the old suit. They 

 are not miners, but feed openly, eating irregular holes in the leaves, often skeleton- 

 izing them. They are most destructive on the flowers, where they eat the petals and 

 stems. In the latter part of May they cease feeding, securely fasten the cases to 

 the branches, and in about 2 weeks change to pupa? within. The moth emerges 

 in 2 or 3 weeks, and soon glues its minute, pretty, cinnamon-colored, inverted cup- 

 like eggs to the surfaces of the leaves. The egg stage lasts about a week, the lit- 

 tle caterpillars emerging about July 22. They begin eating little holes in the leaves, 

 and during their first meal construct of silk and excrement a small case or suit for 

 themselves. They continue feeding on the leaves, adding to their suits from time to 

 time, until about September 1, when they begin to migrate to the twigs and there 

 fasten their little pistol-shaped cases to the bark. The winter is passed in these 

 snug, warm, secure quarters." 



No natural enemies of the insect were met with by the author, though 

 he notes that there is recorded a minute chalcid as parasitic upon it. 



1 Ann. Rpt. Comr. Agr. 1878, p. 254. 



