200 



INSECT CALEXDAll. 



in the sap-wood, running solitary galleries for a distance of two 

 inches towards the centre of the tree. We figure Tomicus 

 sylographus Say (Fig. 242, enlarged). It is the most formi- 

 dable enemy to the white pine in tlie North, and the yellow pine 

 in the South that we have. It also flies in May. Ptinus fur 



242. Pine Weevil. 



243. Ptinus and Larva. 



(Fig. 243, much enlarged) is now found in out-houses, and is 

 destructive to cloth, furs, etc., resembling the Larder-beetle 

 (Dermestes) in its habits. It is fourteen hundredths of an inch 

 in length. 



The Insects of June. 



Early in the month the Parsnip butterfly (Papilio Asterias) 

 may be seen -flying about, preparatory to laying its eggs for the 

 brood of caterpillars which appear in August. At the time of 

 the flowering of the raspberry and blackberry, the young larva 

 of Vanessa Antiopa, one of our most abundant butterflies, may 

 be found living socially on the leaves of the willow; Avhile the 

 mature larva of another much smaller butterfly, the little Copper 

 skipper (Chrysophanus Americanus), so abundant at this time, 

 may sometimes be found on the clover. It is a short, oval, 

 greenish worm, with very short legs. The dun-colored skippers 

 (Hesperia) abound towards the middle of the month, darting 

 over the flowers of the blueberry and blackberry, in sunny 

 openings in the forests. 



The family of Hawk mollis (Sphinges) now appear in greater 

 abundance, hovering at twilight over flower-beds, and, during 

 tliis time, deposit their eggs on the leaves of various fruit-trees. 

 The American Tent caterpillar makes its cocoon, and assumes 

 the pupa state. The caterpillar passes several days within the 



