BAGWORM MOTHS OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE 43 



and helix and, especially, to what extent h3'bridization occurs in 

 nature. Unfortunately, this information is not available at the 

 present time. 



No morphological distinction has been noted between A. crenulella 

 and the form helix. The cases of both insects are spiraled and very 

 similar as are the larval cases of a few other species described in this 

 genus. 



All members of helix are diploid as are the populations of similar 

 parthenogenetic races in Solenohia and Luffia. Narbel-Hofstetter 

 (1954) states that this normal somatic number is maintained by the 

 fusion of the nucleus of the ovocyte II with the first polar body. 



Another interesting feature of this species is the feeding habit of the 

 larva. Generally feeding only at night, the larvae fasten their cases 

 to the leaf surface and then mine out circular areas that resemble very 

 closely the damage done by Colephora larvae. 



In California this species reportedly overwinters as young larvae 

 that usually mature by the following summer. Adult females begin 

 to appear in early July. These disappear and are replaced by young 

 larvae by the first of August. Prior to overwintering, the larvae 

 evidently construct whitish, membranous septa within the empty 

 female pupal shell, whereby each larva is enclosed eventually in a 

 cell-like partition. The discovery of overwintering larvae in this 

 condition has misled some observers into believing that this moth is 

 viviparous and/or paedogenetic. 



The diagnosis of the female for this genus and species was sum- 

 marized from the discussions of Strand (1912), Gaede (1936), and 

 Robinson (1953). 



Material examined. — 168 cases: 



UNITED STATES: California: Nevada City, 58 cases, USNM. Idaho: 

 Bear Lake Co., 17 cases, USNM. Gooding, 3 cases, USNlNI. Nevada: Elko, 



27 cases, USNM. New York: Loudonville, Albany Co., 3 larvae with cases, 

 June 21, USNM. Utah: Logan, 60 cases, USNM. Lynn, 15 cases, USNM. 



Because it is possible for males of this genus and species to be intro- 

 duced accidentally into this country, a diagnostic description of this 

 form follows. 



Apterona crenulella (Braund) 



Figures 4, 152, 191, 246, 246a 



Psyche crenulella Braund, Mem. Soc. Emul. Donbs., p. 76, "n. 49, t. 2," fig. 49, 

 1853. 



Male. — (Fig. 4.) Antennae 18-20 segmented; serrations with tufts 

 of dense cilia; broader segments unsymmetrically biserrate with 

 broad flattened teeth gradually decreasing to obsolescence toward 

 apex. AU tibiae destitute of spurs. Abdomen with dorsal 



693-052—64 4 



