39 



Fig. 21. The chrysalis is about seven-tenths of an inch long, of a 



nearly uuit'oim daik hi own colour, and roughened with small 

 blackish points or granulations. 



This insect is subject to the attacks of a parasite, a two- 

 winged fly — a Tachina — probably the species known as the 

 red-tailed Tachina tly, Emrista liucanki (see fig. 21, after 

 Riley). It is not much unlike the common house fly in ap- 

 pearance, is about a quarter of an inch long, with a white face, 

 large reddish eyes, a dark hairy body with four, more or less, 

 distinct lines down the thorax, and patches of a greyish shade along the sides of the abdo- 

 men. The parent fly deposits her eggs on the back of the caterpillar, usually a short dis- 

 tance behind the head, where they are cemented firmly by means of a peculiar secretion 

 with which the insect is furnished. Three or four of these eggs are usually placed upon 

 a single caterpillar, where, after a few days, they hatch, when the tiny worms eat their 

 way through the skin into the inteiior of the body, where they feed upon the fatty mat- 

 ters, instinctively avoiding the vital organs. When the caterpillar is about full grown it 

 dies, and from its body emerge these three or four full-grown whitish grubs, which soon 

 after their exit change to chrysalids. These are neaily one-fifth of an inch long, oval, 

 smooth and of a dark brown colour, from which in due time the perfect flies escape. 



The Cylindrical Orthosoma {Orthosoma cylindricum, Fabr.) 



This formidable looking, long-horned beetle, fig. 22, is very common in most por- 

 tions of Ontario during the month of July. It flies at night with a rapid and noisy 

 flight, entering the open windows of lighted rooms during the 

 lig. 22. evenings, often to the great alarm of nervous inmates. This 



beetle measures an inch and a quarter, or even more in length, 

 and is about one-third of an inch in width. Its body is long 

 and narrow, ai\d of a light brown colour, which assumes a darker 

 shade on the head and anteuna\ The thorax is furnished with 

 three sharp teeth on each side, and each wing case has three 

 slightly raised ribs or lines. 



The huva of this in.s( ct inhabits decaying pine wood, espe- 



Fig. 23. 



ciallj' pine stuin[is, auii is supposed to be several years in completing its growth ; it closely 

 resembles the larva of its near relative, Prionus lalicollis, shown in fig. 23 (after Kiley). 

 This latter, however, diff'ers somewhat in its habits and appetite, seeming to prefi r boring 

 into and feeding on living roots, such as those of the Lombardy Poplar, Balm of Gilead, 

 Apple, Pear, and especially roots of the Grape-vine ; in the latter case frequently causing 

 the sudden deatii of the vines attacked. 



The American Silkworm (Telea polyphemus). 



In our Report last year we gave our readers a sketch of the life history of our regal 

 cecropia moth ; the magnificent moth to which we now propose to refer is a fitting sequel 



