March, 1920.] DiCKERSOX & WeISS : EVENIXG PrIMROSE InSECTS. 4I> 



found just before the tornus is the largest of them and is terminated 

 by and followed by intense black scales, the most conspicuous mark- 

 ing on the rather evenly mottled wing. Abdomen ochreous. Legs 

 ochreous, mottled with black. Alar expanse 11-12 mm. ... It is 

 nearest and quite similar to the other (Enothcra feeder, Mompha 

 hrevivitella Clemens, but lacks the longitudinal black streaks on the 

 fore-wings and is at once recognized by the black tornal patch." 



This species appears when the green flower buds have just started 

 to develop and deposits eggs on them and on the tips of the small 

 leaves surrounding the buds. The larvae feed on the outside for a 

 short time and then enter the buds. Larv3e were found in buds rang- 

 ing in size or rather length from 3 to 9 mm. The first feeding inside 

 the bud is near the tip. but the larva soon works downward and 

 feeds on the style and stigma, the stamens and the inner folded parts 

 of the petals. As a result, the bud swells. As development con- 

 tinues, the upper portion of the swollen, closed bud becomes filled 

 with excrement. Sometimes the inner part of the green calyx is 

 eaten out. As a rule, a bud contains only one larva. 



When full grown, the larva cuts a small round hole about i mm. 

 in diameter in one side of the bud and crawls out, finally dropping 

 to the ground where it constructs an elongate, white cocoon, either 

 on top of or slightly beneath the surface. Particles qf soil, etc., are 

 fastened and adhere to the outer surface so that the cocoon is effec- 

 tively hidden. 



i^ull-grown larvx can be found in Xew Jersey during the last 

 half of July and most of August, but during the last of August they 

 become scarce, having left many of the buds by this time. During 

 the last half of August and first part of September, the pupae are 

 plentiful and the adults issue from the middle of August to the 

 middle of September, a few stragglers even emerging as late as the 

 first few days of October. Part of the brood may overwinter in the 

 cocoons. 



On August 27, adults of Bassiis gibbosus (Say) and Microbracon 

 vicllitor (Say) (det. R. A. Cushman) were bred from larvae collected 

 at Riverton, N. J., both being larval parasites of stellclla. On sev- 

 eral occasions adults of .1/. mcllitor were observed ovipositing in the 

 buds of primrose. 



