OF NORTH AMERICA. 241 



(alluding to the name aurea), for specimens which I sent to Zeller, 

 some years ago, elicited from him the facts that if compla varies so that 

 the first two (basal) orange bands are at times separated each into two 

 (and they are sometimes so separated), then it agrees with Cramer's 

 {Hvponomenta) puncklla, pi. 372 ; whereas, Pustidella Fabricius (Ent. 

 Syst , 292) is so described that it covers both.' 



Mr. Grote, however, writing on the same subject, doubts the iden- 

 tity of these descriptions with our American insect, for reasons stated, 

 and under these circumstances I merely call attention lo the fact with- 

 out changing the synonomy. 



Professor Riley, as quoted above, gives some interesting details in 

 relation to the habits of this species. The following quotations are 

 from that article. After stating that the larva feeds on the ailanthus. 

 and had done great damage to the trees in St. Louis, he continues : 

 " During the months of August and September, it may be found of 

 all sizes, living in communities of from five to thirty individuals, 

 within a slight silken web. Did they but feed on the leaves, their 

 injury to the trees would be slight, but they have the miserable habit 

 of gnawing the leafstalk in two, and of severing the leaf, and causing 

 it to turn black ; thus marring the looks of large trees and killing 

 many seedlings outright. When the worm is full grown, it suspends 

 itself in the middle of a loose web, and changes to a chrysalis, about 

 half an inch long, and of a dull smoky brown color. The chrysalis 

 skin is so very fine, that as the future moth develops within, the colors 

 of its wings show distinctly through it. * * The first moths begin 

 to appear during the first days of September, and continue issuing 

 from the chry.salis till the last of October. From the fact that I could 

 get none of them to deposit eggs, I infer that they pass the winter in 

 the moth state — the more readily since I have had them escape from 

 the chrysalis even in November. They are very fond of flitting over 

 and clinging to the flowers of the golden rod and of Eupatoriuvi 

 serotinum'' 



Mr. Riley writes that he has since proved the hybernation of the 

 imago, as suspected. 



'^ Larva . — Average length, when full grown, 0.95. Slender, the 

 diameter being 0.09. General color, very dark olive brown. An ex- 

 tremely fine pearly-white dorsal and subdorsal line, and a somewhat 

 more distinct stjgmatal line, of the same color ; all three of them 

 formed by minute white specks and lines. Dorsum, dull olive green. 



