June, 1922.1 Leiby: Biology OF Gnorimoschema. 83 



Following the making of the exit hole in the wall of the gall at the 

 anterior end so that the adult may readily emerge, the larva pupates. 

 This takes place about August 5. The dark wine colored pupa (Plate 

 VIII, Fig. 6) measures about 12 mm. in length. It is always found 

 head up in the gall chamber. The pupal stage covers a period of 

 about thirty-six days (51 days in North Carolina). 



The adults (Plate VIII, Fig. 7) emerge from the galls through the 

 previously prepared exit holes during the last part of August and 

 early September. After mating the eggs are deposited singly on the 

 stems and lower dried leaves of the goldenrod. Oviposition begins 

 within a few days after mating and extends over a period of two 

 weeks. The adults live about three weeks. 



The insect hibernates in the egg stage, with the eggs remaining on 

 the rods and leaves in some instances; but usually the leaves bearing 

 the eggs may drop to the ground ; likewise the stems may fall over, 

 so that many of the eggs may pass the winter on the ground more 

 or less protected by various leaves and other vegetation. 



Completely formed larvae are developed within the eggs during the 

 fall but they do not emerge until late in May of the following spring. 

 The time of hatching varies considerably in the same locality from 

 year to year, but it occurs regularly at the time when the new golden- 

 rod shoots are four to six inches high. 



The young and minute larva upon emerging from the egg crawls 

 rather aimlessly about until it comes in contact with a new goldenrod 

 shoot whereupon it crawls up the stem to the unfolding bud. It is 

 obvious that the mortality at this time would be abnormally high as the 

 young larvae would frequently fail to locate a new goldenrod shoot 

 were it not for the fact that the shoots grow directly from the old 

 root stock. The place of hatching of the egg is therefore close to a 

 new shoot, hence comparatively little difficulty is encountered by the 

 larva in finding a new shoot in which to make its home. 



When the larva reaches the bud end of a new rod it bores into 

 the bud entering it from the side. Here it takes its first meal and 

 proceeds to eat its way a short distance (one to two inches) down the 

 center of the rod, where it remains. Feeding is continued on the 

 inside and this, coincidentally with the growth of the rod, causes 

 the formation of the typical gall, the chamber of which is the home 



