INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



433 



THE LIMA BEAN POD-BORER 



Eticlla zinclcenella (Treitschke) (Family Pyralidse) 



{Phycin zinckenella Trietschke) 



(Fig. 439) 



Description. — The adult moth is gray with ocherous blotches on the 

 fore wings. There is a plain, broad, white banc! along the margins of 

 these wings and an oeherous band with brown spots across the inner 

 fourth. This band is especially conspicuous. The hind wings are light 

 gray. The moth is small, scarcely more than £ inch long. It is exceed- 

 ingly active on wing and foot. The pupa is rich brown and usually 



Fig. 439. — Lima beans showing the work of the larvae of the lima bean pod-borer, 

 Etiella zinckenella (Treit.). Enlarged twice. (Author's illustration, Mo. Bui. Cal. 

 Hort. Com.) 



inclosed in a thin white cocoon. The young larva is white or light green. 

 When full-grown it is white or distinctly reddish above and greenish 

 beneath. The head is dark, as is also the protlioracic plate and the 

 legs. It averages about 1 inch in length. When disturbed it wriggles 

 violently. 



Life History. — The writer has never seen the eggs, so is unable to 

 state where they are deposited, but judging from the observance of 

 the work of this insect they are probably laid upon the bean plants 

 and the pods as soon as they are formed. Upon hatching, the young 

 caterpillars bore through the pods and begin feeding upon the beans 

 inside, all of which are usually gnawed into or destroyed before fully 

 28—13664 



