October, '17] MERRILL: CLERID AND CODLING MOTH 463 



No data are at hand as to the behavior of the adults in the feral state. 

 That they are predaceous is demonstrated by the specimens in cap- 

 tivity. One clerid pupa was found in April, 1915, under a band and 

 in a codling moth cocoon. In the laboratory the pupal cells were made 

 by chewing up and cementing together bits of paper, or, in some cases, 

 bits of the pasteboard partitions in the '' pupa sticks" in which the cells 

 were made. The cell was well walled in. The pupal case was merely 

 a silvery film investing the developing beetle. 



There is still a question as to the actual length of the larval period. 

 The specimens experimented with above were all well grown when 

 taken. Possibly the food supply was not as constant as it would be 

 in nature. However, the larvae were able to go without food for a long 

 period, which would indicate an adaptation to an uncertain food supply. 

 One nearly grown larva in confinement was fed well from March 15, 

 1915 to June 26, 1915. Then it was fed no more but did not die until 

 Nov. 20, 1916, — a fast of nearly 17 months. Sharp, in Camb. Nat. 

 Hist., Insects, Pt. II, p. 254, records "a larva (of Trichodes ammios) 

 sent to M. Mayet refused such food as was offered to it for a period 

 of 2^ years, and then accepted mutton and beef as food. After being 

 fed for about a year and a half thereon, it died." Again, on the same 

 page, "one of its larvae {Trichodes alvearius), after being full grown, 

 remained 22 months quiescent and then transformed to a pupa." 

 Certainly a blessed quality to possess in lean years! 



There is a question, too, as to the specific economic importance of 

 Cymatodera opthiops in relation to the control of the codling moth. 

 The members of the family Cleridse are as a whole carnassial, but, 

 evidently, widely so. In the feral state this species probably would 

 not confine its attacks to the larvae of the codling moth but would 

 likely take whatever food chance offered to its liking. Where bands 

 are kept on apple trees in winter the food supply is made more constant 

 and the protection greater for the clerids. Better chance is given, 

 also, for them to kill more of the codling moth larvae. At the same 

 time, from several years of observation, they do not appear to be 

 ever sufficiently numerous to clean up the bands and underlying bark 

 of hibernating codling moth larvae. So the bands serve as places of 

 protection to the latter, if not removed after the hibernation is begun. 

 If removed, the clerids are destroyed with the codling moth larvae. 

 Probably they search out under the bark some few larvae that would go 

 unnoticed and in so doing help a little to reduce the number of spring 

 moths emerging. However, they can not be relied upon to such an 

 extent as to permit omission of removal and examination of bands in 

 winter, where banding is practiced. 



If the larvae of this clerid were more numerous by having a more 



