INSIXTS AFKECTINC; PARK AM) WOODLAND TREES 45 I 



Food plants. This insect lias Iktii recorded on several food plants. 

 l)i- Smith -.talcs th.il it occurs ihrouL^dioiit New [erscy on chestnut, oak and 

 Ijeecli, and .Mr Ueiitenniuller ;^iv(.-s pine in addition to the abo\c. 



Distribution. This species has a widt! distrilnilion. occurring in New 

 ^'()rk, <ind ha\ iiig l>een recorded from tint vicinity of Buffalo, Cincinnati, 

 southwestein i'inns\ ]\ ania and the District of Columljia. I)r Hamilton 

 states that it is common in southwestern Pennsylvania, where it breeds in 

 white oak slumps. 



Sesia scitula 1 larris 



.\ blue black ( learwing alxnit -^ im li long, with yelknv-handed Ki;s and abdomen, 

 l)i)rrs in tlie lar\ al stage under the bark of chestnut and dogwood. 



1 hi-, species is known to occtu' in Canada, New England, Middle 

 .States to \'irgiiiia and westward to Ohio and Illinois. Il is said to be 

 closeh' allied to .Sesia p\ ri Harris. It lixcs in the larval stage under 

 the bark of chestnut and dogwood and also inhabits the gall of A n d r i c u s 

 c o r n i g e r o u s. The dogwootl, Co in us floriila appears to l)e its 

 favorite food plant. This species was i>red Jul\' 4 from rough, black, 

 polythalamus galls on limbs of black and red oak by W alsh, and the late 

 I)r KcUicott obtained the same insect from globidar swellings on oak twigs 

 in May. 



Male. Head and antennae black; palpi yellow, tip black ; orbits white. 

 Thorax dee]j blue black with a yellow line on each side and a yellow patch 

 on each side beneath. Abdomen deep blue black with a narrow yellow ring 

 on the second and fourth segiiKMits, the latter covering the whole segment 

 beneath. Anal tuft black. At the base of the abdomen is a yellow line 

 reaching to the end of the second segment. Femora blue black, tibiae yel- 

 low- with a purple band on the middle and hind femora. Anterior co.xae 

 yellow. Forewings transparent, borders and discal mark l)lue black, narrow ; 

 outer margin broad, with yellow rays. Underside brighter than the upper. 

 Hind wings transparent, margins very narrow, blue black. 



Faiiij/c. Similar to the male, but heavier. The palpi are wholly yel- 

 low and the fourth segment is yellow above and below ; the fifth and sixth 

 are yellow beneath ; on the forev.ings the yellow between the veins of the 

 outer border is more distinct ami thoanal tuft is yellow at the sides. 



Expanse, male and female, 18-22 mm. liciUcininillir 



