March. 19^0.1 DiCKERSOX & W'eISS : EVENIXG PrIMROSE InSECIS. 39 



This moth, like many other species, is attracted to light. The first 

 specimen seen by Dr. Fitch in 1858 was brought to him from Adam. 

 Mass.. where it was taken at light and four years later he captured 

 a second specimen at light in his own home in New York state. 



We have not bred any specimens and find no record of parasitic 

 enemies in the literature relating to this species. Triphlcps insid- 

 iosits, a common predaceous hemipteron, however, was observed 

 feeding on the egg of this species. The lancets of the beak were 

 inserted in the side of the tgg, the tip of the beak scarcely pene- 

 trating the covering and in this position it rested for thirty minutes. 

 The egg gradually collapsed on one side and then the base cracked 

 open, the contents having been practically exhausted. 



Desmia funeralis Hubn. 



This species, known as the grape leaf-folder, has long been recog- 

 nized as a pest of the vine. It is widely distributed in the United 

 States and probably occurs in nearly every locality where wild or 

 cultivated grapes grow. At first its occurrence on primrose at 

 Princeton Junction, N. J., appeared somewhat unusual, but when it 

 was later found on the same plant at Monmouth Junction and in 

 fairly large numbers at Washington's Crossing. N. J., we concluded 

 that the primrose could be included in its short list of recorded food 

 plants. 



In view of the fact that the grape leaf-folder has been known to 

 entomologists in this country since 1855 and has been treated in 

 various publications, it is not necessary to go into details here con- 

 cerning its life-history and habits. Therefore the following account 

 except where its occurrence is mentioned in connection with evening 

 primrose, has been drawn from what appears to be the latest publi- 

 cation on this insect by J. F. Strauss.^ 



It was first noted by us in New Jersey at Princeton Junction on 

 July 2, when small and almost full grown larvje were taken from the 

 foliage of evening primrose. The young larv'oe were found feeding 

 on leaves which had not been folded, while the older ones were 

 always within a folded or rather rolled leaf. The leaves were rolled 

 either from the tip back or lengthwise up or down and the larvae 

 fed within the cylinder either on the upper or lower epidermis, de- 



iThe Grape Leaf-Folder. Bui. 419. U. S D \. Rur. Ent. 



