INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



425 



THE STRAWBERRY CROWN MOTH 



/Egeria rutilans (H. Edwards) (Family iEgeriids 



[Sesia rutilans (H. Edwards)] 



(Synantkedon rutilans PI. Edwards) 



(Figs. 433, 434) 



Description. — The adults are clear-winged moths, the females having 

 a wing expanse of about | inch, the males being somewhat smaller. The 

 ground color of the body is black with oblique longitudinal stripes on 

 the thorax and yellow bands around the abdomen. The antenna? are 

 bluish black and the legs yellow with black rings. The fore wings are 

 almost entirely covered with brown and black scales, having a purple 

 iridescence. There are yellow stripes between the veins and the outer 

 border is brown and yellow. The hind wings are nearly all transparent 

 with broAvn border. The tuft at the tip 

 of the abdomen is yellow and black. 

 The males are much darker than the 

 females, having fewer and narrower 

 yellow bands on the body and the anal 

 tuft is larger and all black. The larva? 

 are cylindrical, white with reddish- 

 brown head, black legs and mandibles, 

 covered with brownish hair and slightly 

 over -|- inch long. The pupa? are en- 

 closed in brownish cocoons, the chrysa- 

 lids being reddish-brown with several 

 rows of dark spines across the back and 

 sides. They are about ^ inch long and 

 are usually found within the old larval 

 burrows. 



Life History. — The moths begin to 

 issue about April, continuing to appear 

 until the latter part of July. The eggs 

 are laid soon after the adults appear 

 and the young larva? hatch in the sum- 

 mer or fall and work during the winter and spring, most of the damage 

 being done in the spring, about February. Soon after this pupation 

 begins, so that adults may begin to issue in April. The brood is uneven, 

 for pupa? may be found as late as June. 



Nature of Work. — The larva* work in the crown of the plants, event- 

 ually killing them. Fig. 434 shows the nature of their attacks. 



Distribution. — This moth is distributed throughout the central and 

 southern parts of the State, though specimens may occur quite far 

 north in the Sacramento Valley. 



Food Plants. — The larva? work within the stems near the base pr 

 in the roots near the crown of the host plants. They are exceedingly 

 destructive to strawberry plants, working within the crowns and roots. 

 They also feed within the roots and canes of raspberry and blackberry 

 plants. Their presence usually means the complete destruction of the 

 plants unless control measures are promptly adopted. Mr. H. II. Bow- 

 man, Horticultural Commissioner of Placer County, who has rendered 



Fig. 433. — Adult female of the 

 strawberry crown moth. JEgeria 

 rutilans (H. Edw. ). Enlarged twice. 

 Specimen collected at Bowman by 

 H. H. Bowman. (Original) 



