43 



thirteen segments marked by slight intervening constrictions. It is dull white, the head, 

 which is strongly depressed, and the three thoracic segments pale rusty brown. An 

 interrupted broad blackish stripe along the middle of the back is more or less distinct. 

 Only the three pairs of legs upon the thoracic segments are distinctly developed." 



" Tiiese worms, or many of them at least, are carried to the ground upon the leaves, 

 when they fall from the trees in autumn. They remain in their cases and change to pupas 

 among the fallen leaves beneath the trees, in which situation tliey may be found early in 

 the following spring." 



Dr. Fitch mentions the fact that trees standing alone in fields or yards around houses 

 were exempt from the attacks of the leaf-cutter. Our experience does not confirm this 

 statement, for we found that several isolated trees were badly disfigured arountl the 

 country house where we spent the past summer months. A small Ichneumon-fly, about 

 one-tenth of an inch in length, and pale yellow, is parasitic upon the larvae cases, and 

 prob\bly is of material service in checking the increase of the moth. Dr. Fitch suggests 

 as a remedy that sheep or cattle be allowed to range the ground occupied by the sugar 

 orchard, and if notwithstanding the trampling of the earth by cattle standing under or 

 travelling around them, the leaves of particular trees show that they are preyed on by 

 this moti), it will be well after the leaves have fallen in autumn to feed salt to the 

 anima's under such trees, that any insects among the leaves may be trampled upon and 

 destroyed. 



The holes made by these insects are nearly circular when first cut, bnt by the subse- 

 qu( nt growth of the leaf they become oblong. 



8. THE MAPLE MEASURING WORM (Stegania puslularia, Guenee). 



Order, Lepidoptera ; Family, GEOMETRiDiE. 



We quote the following account from Mr. W. Saunders' notes, as published in the 

 Canadian Entomohgid, vol. iii. p. 325 : 



"The larvae of this delicate looking little geometric moth feeds on the maple. It is 

 common in the London neighbourhood, and may be reailily got in season by striking the 

 branches of the trees a sharp blow, when it drops at once part way to the ground, remain- 

 ing suspended by a silken thread, by means of which, when danger passes, it can regain 

 its position on the tree. It is found full grown about the middle of June, enters the 

 chrysalis state within a few days afterwards, and produces the moth early in July. 



" When full grown the larva measures about five-eighths of an inch in length ; body 

 cylindrical, head medium-sized, rather flat in front and slightly bilobed, and of a pale 

 green colour, with a fe-v very fine hairs, invisible without a magnifying glass,scattered over 

 its surface ; mandiblff jpped with black." 



"Body above V.jish green, with thickly set longitudinal stripes of whitish and 

 yellow ; a double v mtish dorsal line with bordering lines of yellowish white, neither of 

 which are unbrol.i'U, but are formed of a succession of short lines and dots. Below these, 

 on each side, are two or three imperfect white lines, made up of short streaks, and much 

 fainter than tho.se bordering the dorsal line ; spaces between the segments yellowish. 

 The skin all over the body is much wrinkled and folded." 



"The under surface is green, with a tinge of yellowish between the segments ; feet 

 yellowish green, prolegs green, faintly tipped with brown." 



" The moth is of a pure white colour, with three or four reddish brown spots on the 

 costal margin of each of tlie fore wings, and with a faint curved line of the same, crossing 

 them a little beyond the middle ; it expands one inch.'' 



The larva feeds on the young and tender leaflets and buds, and of course causes 

 some injury. In all probability the same remedy would be of service as that suggested 

 by Dr. Fitch in the case of the maple leaf cutter. 



