20 NEW VOKK STATE MUSELM 



tcrins^. llu- half j^rrown caterpillars or larvae of certain iiKuhs hibernate in a 

 dormant condition in the shelterini; ijrass antl in the sprinter resume feediniif 

 and complete their j^rowth. The partly grown Inid moth in its cleverly con- 

 cealed silken case, sheltered by a protuberance on the twig, and the firmly 

 attached shelters of case bearers with tlun'r tiny f)ccupants, are familiar exam- 

 ples of insects wintering in the catcr])illar or larval stage. Many species, pos- 

 sibly the majority, hibernate in the pu[jal stage, which, usually passed in 

 a secure and well liiddcn retreat, naturally affortls much jjrotection from tiie 

 elements, and as a consecpience, hibernation in this form involves less risk 

 than wintering in some other. A large number of insects pass the winter as 

 adults in various sheltered places. Examples of these are manv bugs, 

 beetles and even delicate moths and butterflies can withstand the extreme 

 cold of our climate, and some forms are apparently able to survive the win- 

 t(;r in either the lar\al, jjupal or ailalt condition. It is not the degree of 

 ct)ld that is fatal to insects so much as r('])('atcil thawings and freezings or a 

 sudden change from one to llu- other. It is a well known fact that caterpil- 

 lars may be frozen stiff ami rc\ivi'd, but lhc\- perish after this is rejieated 

 several times. 



Parasitic and predaceous insects. These two. groups of insects are 

 exceedingly important in controlling insect outbreaks, and occasionally they 

 may be the principal agents in reducing the numbers of a serious insect 

 enemy. 



The studies of Dr L. ( ). Howard' have thrown a flood of light on 

 the intricate relations which nia\- exist bcLween a notorious pest and its 

 insect eninnics. The while marked tussock niolh, 1 1 e m e r o c a ni p a 1 e u- 

 costigma Abb. cK; .Sm., was exceedingh abundant in Washington and the 

 opportunity was seized Ijy l)r Howard to make the al)o\e mentioned stuily. 

 He succeeded in rearing from this insect 15 species of primary hymcnop- 

 terous parasites and listed three others as jjrobably having the same habits. 

 He also bred six primary dipterous parasites from this insect, making a total 

 of 2\ and probably 24 species, which depend to a greater or less extent on 



' 1897 U. S. Dep't Agric. Div. Ent. Tech. Ser. i. p. 1-57. 



