496 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 10 



banded in middle with brown. Two white scale-covered spines arise from the distal 

 end of the hind tibia. Abdomen sometimes wholly white but more generally the 

 anterior fifth of each segment is fuscous. 



Habits of the Adults. — These tiny moths are very inconspicuous 

 and, Hke other members of the group, assume a pecuHar attitude while 

 at rest. The fore legs are extended while the others are partly folded 

 under the body. In this way the insect rests on the fore legs and the 

 end of the abdomen. The antennae are held at right angles to the axis 

 of the body and are in constant vibration. During the day these 

 moths are seldom active and remain hidden until dusk, at which time 

 they may be seen flying around their host tree in quite large numbers 

 during early August. In the course of a few days they begin laying 

 eggs for the next generation. Thus it takes a full year for Marmara, 

 elotella Busck to complete its life cycle. 



Natural Enemies 



An undetermined Chalcid parasite is quite efficient in controlling 

 these miners. Many of the larvae become full grown and spin their 

 cocoons but instead of containing the lepidopterous pupae, the pupae 

 of the Chalcid parasite appropriates the comfortable quarters of the 

 sap feeders. 



General Considerations 



Although adult characters of Marmara elotella correspond to the 

 systematic ideal of the genus, the peculiar method of cocoon for- 

 mation when taken in comparison to the characteristic Marmaran 

 cocoon, which is ornamented by froth-like globules and has been ob- 

 served in all species thus far described, shows that one of two things 

 should be done. Either the generic cocoon character must be changed 

 so that it includes the type shown by M. elotella or a separate genus 

 should be erected. As stated elsewhere in this paper, I have observed 

 bark miners on pine, ash, and hemlock which form the same charac- 

 teristic cocoon as M. elotella, all of which will probably prove to be 

 different species. Another fact showing difference between this 

 species and other members of the genus may be found in that there 

 are no prolegs in the spinning stage of M. elotella, while in other species, 

 the prolegs are present. 



