168 



THE EEiPORT OF T?1E 



No. 36 



Description of Egg Masses of the Different Species. 



All three species lay their eggs in clusters as seen in the photographs. The 

 egg masses of the Fruit-tree Leaf-roller are roughly oval in shape, about three- 

 sixteenths of an inch in length, and are covered with a protective secretion. 

 They are, with very rare exceptions, laid on twigs of two or three years' growth, 

 and commonly on some slight slope on these suchj as occurs at the base of a 

 branch or fruit spur. They are nearly always deposited on the upper surface or 

 sides of the twig, only two or three having been found on the underside. Freshly 

 laid masses are yellowish green but soon turn dark brown, a little darker brown 

 than the twigs on which they are laid. After hatching they gradually become 

 grayish white and are then more easily seen. The little openings show where 

 the caterpillars emerged. Old egg masses sometimes remain on the trees for 

 two years before weathering away. Each egg mass contains an average of about 

 9'5 eggs, the smallest number found being 6 and the largest l-iS. 



Egg masses of A. semiferana much enlarged to show the scales ' 



from the moth's abdomen that form the covering. 

 (After Gillette.) 



The egg masses of the Box-elder Leaf-roller are easily distinguished from 

 any other egg mass likely to be found in that they are covered over with scales. 

 We have not observed the female laying the eggs, but there seems no doubt that 

 after she has deposited and covered them over with a sticky secretion she presses 

 her abdomen down upon this secretion and leaves all the scales there arranged 

 as in nature. This would lead us to infer that only one egg mass is laid by each 

 female. The masses are, as seen in the figure, roughly oval, are a little smaller 

 than those of the Eruit-tree Leaf-roller and are glossy cream in color. They 

 usually appear to (X)ntain from 20 to 60 eggs. Unlike those of the first species 

 the egg masses are not laid on twigs but chiefly in the axils of branches of from 

 about one to two inches in diameter, and on the bark of the larger branches of 

 iy2 inches and upwards in thickness. A few are found on the trunk. The eggs 

 are usually placed in a slight depression on the bark. 



Only four egg masses of the Oblique-banded Leaf-roller were seen. Two 

 of these were laid on the glass in rearing cages (one of these is shown in the 



