March, i9-'o.] DiCKERSON & WeISS : EvENIXG PRI.MROSE INSECTS. 35 



species are laid as the case may be, on the stem, leaves, and develop- 

 ing tips and buds and not inserted in the tissue. In view of this 

 we do not see how the initial meristem could be injured by the ovi- 

 positor. It would be possible, however, for the larva of the species 

 breeding in the tip to injure this tissue by feeding. During the past 

 summer, hundreds of infested plants were examined in various 

 parts of New Jersey and the amount of visible fasciation found was 

 very small. It therefore appears to us as if the primrose insects do 

 not play such an important part in fasciation as Miss Knox's paper 

 would indicate. 



The following species of insects were found associated with the 

 primroses during the second year of their growth, or in other words, 

 with the adult plants. As a rule little w^as found on the rosettes. 

 The tip moth, Phalonia CEnotherana, winters over in the rosette, as 

 will be shown later and it is quite probable that some of the leaf 

 feeders utilize this stage of the plant for food purposes. The ro- 

 settes also should afford hibernation quarters for miscellaneous spe- 

 cies. Primrose roots were examined and with one exception the 

 results were negative. This exception consisted of aphids which 

 were found on roots at Hightstown, N. J., by Mr. West. Unfor- 

 tunately no specimens were saved and the identity of the species is 

 unknown to us. 



Lepidoptera. 

 Rhodophora florida Gn. 



This prettily colored moth is one of the species intimately asso- 

 ciated with the evening primrose, the larva feeding on the unopened 

 buds and to a much lesser extent, the seed capsules and the adults 

 visiting the flowers by night and resting within the partially closed 

 blossoms during the day. It has been considered an apparently rare 

 insect by collectors until the characteristic habits of the larva or 

 adult were known when it became an obviously common species 

 within the limits of its distribution. 



The Flowery Primrose ^Moth was the popular name used by Dr. 

 Asa Fitch (12th Rept. Nox. Ben. Ins. St. N. Y., pp. 900-906) as the 

 title of a paper in which he gives a very complete account of the 

 life-history and habits of the insect. The species was descrilied by 

 Guenee in 1857 (Hist. Xat. Ins. Lep.. Vol. VI, p. 71) from a single 

 female taken in New York bv Mr. Edward Doubledav while collect- 



