Dec. 1899.] Dyar: Life-Histories of N. Y. Slug Caterpillai-s. 241 



The process of finding the Eucleid larvae differs somewhat from the 

 usual one. In the majority of cases it is not a question of searching 

 on a given food plant at a given season. Only two species are to be 

 so found, Apoda bigutfata, feeding on oak and A. y-inversa on hickory. 

 Most of the species have several, or an indefinite number of food 

 plants. The question is one of locality ; first the general locality 

 where the species occurs and next the particular position in regard to 

 distances from the ground and conditions of light and shade. These 

 I have tried to give under each species in the descriptions. It is 

 scarcely ever worth while to look on rough or downy leaved trees. 

 The Eucleids principally frecjuent smooth, glabrous leaves of trees and 

 shrubs. The tree probably most attacked is the black or red oak 

 (^Quercus coccinea) and nearly all our species may be found on it, A. 

 y-inversa of course excepted. The season of the year is here less im- 

 portant than usual, as the Eucleids cover a long period in their larval 

 state. I find the month of July the best collecting season. The 

 larvffi are then numerous, not having been devoured by their many 

 enemies, and their small size at this time gives opportunity to observe 

 the earlier stages. Also this season makes certain no loss of the early 

 species, like Tortricidia testacea, which are often all gone at the end 

 of August and at the same time secures at least some of the late species 

 like T. pallida. I recommend the search for the eggs. Though they 

 are probably the most difficult objects to find on the leaves with which 

 we have to do, by a little practice it is quite possible to get them suc- 

 cessfully. The appearance of the eggs is that of shining elliptical 

 spots of moisture, rather than that of any ordinary lepidopterous egg. 

 When the eggs are found the great advantage has been secured of obtain- 

 ing all the life history without the trouble of rearing moths for mating. 

 However, if mating is necessary, or becomes desirable for other rea- 

 sons, a number of larva; must be obtained. This is almost always 

 possible, early enough in the season, by continuing the search in the 

 same or similar locations to that where the first larva; were found. I 

 have found from fifteen to thirty larvae sufficient, because the indi- 

 viduals of a species, if kept under proper conditions, emerge nearly 

 simultaneously. These conditions are plenty of moisture and natural 

 cold. I have found satisfaction in an ordinary flower pot, three-fourths 

 full of earth in which the cocoons are placed, and covered with moss 

 and leaves, protected by a cloth and wire screen. This is sunk in the 

 ground to the level of the top of the pot and left out of doors from 



