Dec. 1896.] Dyar: Life-Histories of N. Y. Slug Caterpillars. ITl 



pressed spots ; broadly bordered with yellow, which color also extended 

 along the subdorsal ridges half way to the tail. Length 3.5 to 

 4.7 mm. 



Stage VI. — Depressed spaces deep and well marked, finely sha- 

 greened granular in the bottom. Latticed ridges coarsely densely clear 

 granular as before. Areas in the subventral space reniform, (7) and (8; 

 conjoined, the granulations of this space finer than above the lateral 

 ridge. Body green, at first scarcely marked, but during the stage the 

 dorsal red patch appears. This varies greatly in shape in different 

 larvae, from a small transverse bar (Plate VI, fig. 3) to a large patch 

 covering the dorsum of joints 5 to 9 and extending part way down the 

 sides. There is a more or less distinct yellow subdorsal line, broken 

 where it crosses the red patch, the patch bordered with crimson and 

 yellow. The patch is of a varying shade of purplish red with a more 

 or less distinct central square blotch on joints 7 and 8, the enclosed de- 

 pressed spaces of dorsal row (i) centered with a dark dot. The patch 

 may have an irregular outline as in the mature larva, but it does not 

 reach either extremity. A small reddish patch may occur on joint 3. 

 Length 4.7 to 6.7 mm. 



Stage VII. — Smoothly rounded, elliptical, the tail subquadrate; 

 highest through joint 5, evenly rounded (Plate VI, fig. 5). Subdorsal 

 ridge rounded, dorsal space rather narrow, lateral broad, gradually 

 sloping. Lateral ridge smooth, prominent, exceeding the subventral 

 ridge. Subventral space small, hollowed. Depressed spaces large and 

 deep, arranged as described above (Plate VI, fig. 8), their bottoms finely 

 granular. Latticed ridges coarsely clear granular. Body green with a 

 large dorsal marking which varies from narrow (Plate VI, fig. 6) to 

 broad* CPlate VI, fig. 7) and from bright red to dull purplish in differ- 

 ent examples. It has a pale salmon colored center, often square and cov- 

 ering only one depressed space (joints 7-8) or rarely larger, occasionally 

 wanting. The patch is bordered with crimson and yellow and is usually 

 darker around the edge and on the latticed ridges. It usually narrows 

 on joints 3 to 5, widens again, reaching the lateral depressed space (4) 

 on joints 5-6, is incised in a curve and broadens to the lateral margin 

 at joint 8 ; narrows again in an incised curve to the depressed space (4) 

 on joints 9-10, and there tapers to the tail, thus forming a large, blurred 

 red cross. Most of the depressed spaces on the sides are pale with darker 

 green centers. Length of the larva 6.7 to 9.5 mm. 



*It is difficult to illustrate the range in the size of this marking without a long 

 series of figures. The patch may be even larger than shown in figure 7. 



