42 



dasycarpum, and we give the following condensed description from his notes published in 

 the Canadian Entomologist, vol. ii. p. 1 30. 



A numberof specimens were taken late in July. Their length was 1-40 inches; 

 somewhat onisciform. The head was medium sized, flattened and bilobed ; of a pale, 

 ashen gray colour, a dark brown stripe on each side, and a few short grey hairs scattered 

 on its surface. 



The body above is brownish grey, with numerous streaks and dots of pale brown ; 

 a double irregular dorsal line widening here and there throughout -its entire length. 

 There are many other broken lines of the same character, composed chiefly of dots, but 

 none of them continuous. On the hinder part of the twelfth segment is a raised crescent 

 shaped line, edged behind with black, and on the terminal one two whitish dots, with a 

 small patch of black at their base. The spiracles, or breathing pores, are pale, oval, and 

 edged with black. The under surface is paler and bluish-green, with two round central 

 blackish spots on the hinder part of the seventh and eighth segments. The feet are green- 

 ish, and semi-transparent. This larva is subject to considerable variation in its colour 

 and markings. When about to go into chrysalis the larva cuts through a portion of a 

 leaf of the tree on which it'has fed, and turning it over constructs a snug little case, 

 fastening it up closely and carefully with silken tlireads, and in this completes its trans- 

 formations. After remaining in the pupa state about two weeks Mr. Saunders' specimens 

 produced the perfect imago. 



Although not appearing in any very great numbers the moth is tolerably common in 

 the western part of the Province. 



7. THE MAPLE LEAF CUTTER {Omix acerifoliella, Fitch.) 

 Order, Lepidoptera ; Family, Tineid^ 



Many persons, we have no doubt, have often noticed a peculiar appearance of the 

 maple leaves, resembling the effects of fire or frost, and giving a dingy brown look to the 

 whole foliage. It is more or less common every year in this Province, but it has been 

 unusually noticeable in the London district during the past season. It is caused by the 

 larvte of a pretty little moth, whose dark brilliant blue colour and bright orange yellow 

 head may frequently attract the attention of an observer during the early part of the 

 summer, as the moth flies about from tree to tree, or rests exposed upon the leaves. 



This little creature belongs to a family that embraces the smallest in size of all our 

 Lepidoptera, and many members of which are very familiar to us, as we know to our 

 annoyance and discomfort when our furs and carpets and wearing apparel are attacked. 

 Dr. Asa Fitch, the talented Entomologist of the State of Massachusetts, was the first to 

 work out the life-history of this destructive little maple leaf cutter, and from his excellent 

 treatise, published in 18.'56, we intend to make a few extracts. "The cause of this fading 

 of the leaves was recently discovered upon examination. It was found that the green 

 parenchyma or pulpy substance of the leaf was destroyed in spots and irregular patches, 

 leaving only the fine net-work of veins and the transparent cuticle. These spots were 

 commonly in rings or in segments of a circle, with the c^entres green and unaffected. In 

 addition to these, holes of a nearly circular form appeared in the leaves, about a quarter 

 of an inch in diameter, with others of a smaller size. A dozen or more of these holes 

 were at that time found in almost every leaf; and some of the pieces which had been cut 

 out of the leaf, forming these holes, might be observed adhering like round scales to the 

 surface of the leaf, some on its upper, others on its under side. On elevating this scale 

 from the .snrface of the leaf another smoller one was found beneath it, and beneath them 

 was a small white worm, which was evidently the artizan by whom all this w-ork hid 

 been done — cutting out these circular pieces from the leaf to form a cloak for himself, and 

 when hungry feeding upon the pulpy substance of the leaf, thus forming the circular and 

 irregular spots seen upon it. Occasionally one of these scales might be observed to move 

 slightly along, the worm at such times protruding its head from under the edge of tho 

 scale, and with its feet pulling its unwieldy domicile to another part of the leaf" 



" The worm within these cases is nearly a quarter of an inch in length when mature. 

 It is slender, and of a flattened cylindrical form, soft and contractible, composed of 



