THE CACTUS-FEEDING PHYCITINAE — HEINRICH 405 



Later writers, however, all treated grossulariae as a distinct species, 

 and it so stands at present in our lists and economic literature. I 

 see nothing either in pattern or genitalic structure to distinguish 

 grossulariae from corwolutella even as a geographic race. The sup- 

 posed western races named by Dyar are nothing but color forms, dif- 

 fering less from typical European or eastern American forms than 

 do many specimens from a single eastern State. His ihouna was 

 described from two faded specimens and dilativitta from a single 

 fresh and perfect female. His magniflcans^ though larger than most 

 eastern examples, can be matched in any long series of specimens 

 from Europe or eastern Canada. 



The species does not feed upon cactus. It is treated here because 

 its genus has been used as a receptacle for many cactus-feeding species 

 and also because it is similar in genitalic structure to the cactus feed- 

 ers. In this country it is popularly known as the gooseberry fruit- 

 worm and has a rather extensive economic literature. Only one of 

 the more recent economic references is quoted, but the foregoing 

 synonymy is complete so far as I can judge, and the principal sys- 

 tematic references are cited. 



It is the most important lepidopterous pest of the gooseberry here 

 and abroad and often does serious injury. It also is recorded as an 

 occasional enemy of currants. 



There is one generation a year, moths flying from mid-April to early 

 in June. About 10 months are passed in the pupal stage, the insects 

 overwintering as pupae in loose cocoons on the ground under fallen 

 leaves or other rubbish. 



