303 



We have examined over forty specimens in the Barnes collection 

 and smaller series in various other collections, among which were 

 many bred specimens. The species is remarkably constant in super- 

 ficial appearance, probably due to its general darkness, for the white 

 markings are greatly reduced in the darker examples. The one dark 

 segment of the abdomen, preceded and followed by white marks, is 

 usually characteristic, though we have seen cases of obsolescence of 

 these white marks. 



Tcnuidactyliis has been reared from the buds of blackberry by 

 several entomologists. Dyar (Psyche VIII) gives a description of 

 the larva and pupa, while S. A. Forbes (111. Rept.) and Saunders give 

 similar data and some remarks on the habits of the larva. According 

 to Dyar the larvae feed on the buds of blackberry, which they mimic 

 closely, and in B. C. on thimble-berry, Ritbus imtkamis. There is a 

 specimen in the Fernald collection which is labelled as having been 

 reared from a larva boring in the stem of a species of Solidago. We 

 have checked this identification carefully, and cannot account for such 

 a strange difference in both habit and food plant if the record is cor- 

 rect. One Wisconsin specimen in the National Museum was reared 

 from strawberry. 



Dyar's description of larva and pupa is as follows : 



"Head green, 7 mm. wide. Body pale green, with a faint sub-dorsal white 

 band. Warts i and ii imited, bearing about ten setae with simple ends; iii 

 with six setae; a small wart behind it with two setae (iiia) ; iv -1- v with two 

 large setae and several small ones; a single seta behind this (iiib) ; vi with 

 a distinct tubercle, but somewhat confused among the secondary hairs; vii of 

 three large setae with several shorter ones ; secondary hairs scattered over the 

 body, and these as well as some shorter ones from the warts have swollen or 

 cleft tips. 



"Pupa. Slender, tapering behind, fastened by the cremaster. A row of 

 sub-dorsal tubercles bearing four spines in a fan-like arrangement, continued 

 as a carinated ridge on the thorax. Thorax widened, the cases produced into a 

 point along the abdomen. Two slight points above the eyes. Whitish green, 

 cases more greenish. There are several spines on the thorax, and some fine, 

 soft hairs on abdomen laterally. Another pupa was light purplish brown. 



"On the buds of blackberry (Rubus), Keene Valley, N. Y., June. Found 

 with Batalis basilaris Zell., but more closely resembles the blackberry buds than 

 this Tineid does." 



