i 



1901 ENTOMOLOGICA.L SOCIETY. Ill 



Semioihisa granitata, and Epirranthis obfirmataria. It was a little late for these species, but 

 nice examples of all were taken. 



The most interesting discovery of the day occurred after we had been in the swamp for about an 

 hour, when our attention was drawn to the destruction which had been wrought to the young 

 tamarac and spruce trees (Latix Americana and Picea niqra). Many of these young trees, 

 particularly towards the top, were denuded of their foliage. After a careful investigation of the 

 branches and remaining leaves, without any insects being found, it occurred to us to examine 

 the moss at the base of the trees. This was not in vain, for as soon as we began to remove the 

 wet moss from the base of the trees, we discovered evidence of the presence of larvae, by finding 

 ■some frass, and upon further examination soon located the culprits. These caterpillars were 

 ■from three to six inches below the surface of the wet moss, and of course were simply hiding 

 during the day, until nightfall, when they would again ascend the trees and begin feeding. 

 Later, however. Dr. Fletcher found a few specimens of the larv?e feeding on the foliage. The 

 trees which were most attacked were small ones, from two to four feet high. About 25 speci- 

 mens of the larvpe, in all, were collected, but unfortunately only those cared for by Mr. Young 

 produced imagoes. The larv?e collected by Dr. Fletcher and the writer, although feeding well 

 in confinement, and pupating in a healthy condition, failed to give the moths. Some of Mr. 

 Y'oung's specimens were forwarded by Dr. Fletcher to Prof. J. B. Smith, tor identification, and 

 the species proves to be a new one to science. In 1899 Mr. Young took one specimen of the 

 moth at the Mer Bleue on the 30th August, and another specimen was taken by him 

 in the same locality last year, early in September. Prof. Smith has named this species 

 SemiopJiora Youngii, in honour of the discoverer. The caterpillar is from about an inch 

 «,nd a quarter to nearly an inch and a half in length, and, for a caterpillar, is a beautiful 

 •creature. A description will be given in the Annual Report of the Entomologist and Botanist, 

 to the Dominion Experimental Farms for 1901. The moth is also a beautiful species, varying 

 •considerably both in colour and distinctness of markings ; it expands about an inch and a quarter. 



As the morning was dull and cloudy, I was in hopes that the sun would come out, at least 

 for a while, during the afternoon, as I was anxiou? to see Ghionohas jidta flying, the Mer Bleue 

 being one of the few localities in Canada where this interesting butterfly has been found. My 

 hopes were not disappointed, for soon afterwards the clouds broke and the warm sun appeared 

 in all its glorj\ It had hardly done so when just ahead of me I noticed a large brown butterfly 

 flying rather quickly. Of course, I immediately gave chase, and in about a minute had netted 

 -my first specimen of Cliionobas jutta, which proved to be a perfect female. Several other speci- 

 mens were afterwards caught in tolerably good condition. This buttei'fly, although not very 

 •difficult to catch, has the habit of resting on dead branches and trunks of trees, where it is pro- 

 tected considerably by the resemblance of the under side of the wings to the bark, and where it 

 is very difficult to catch. 



In the twenty-fifth Annual Report of the Society, Dr. Fletcher published an article on the 

 Pitcher-plant Moth (Exyra rolandiana). As neither Mr. Young nor I had ever seen the 

 larva of this pretty little moth, we were anxious to see it at work, and were much interested 

 when Dr. Fletcher, who knew its habits, called us to examine some infested pitcher plants 

 •(Sarracenia purpurea). We had not looked very long before specimens of the caterpillar were 

 found, their presence being easily detected, as stated in the above article, by the brown 

 •dead patch on the leaf, where the caterpillar had fed for a time the year before and which showed 

 plainly on the outside, also by the mouth of the pitcher having been drawn together somewhat, 

 and the remaining space closed up with a web of fine silk. The caterpillar is an attractive one, as 

 the following description, taken from Dr. Fletcher's article, will show : "Length when extended, 

 three quarters of an inch ; spindle-shaped ; distinctly segmented ; general outline closely 

 resembling the larva of Xanthoptera semicrocea, figured by Prof. Riley on page 208 of the Cana- 

 dian Entomologist, Vol, VI, but lacking the fleshy processes of the abdominal segments ; head 



