-64- 



Larva of a Large Species of HEPIALID^E, Phassus 

 triangularis, Hy. luhv., from Vera Cruz, Mex. 



By VVm. Schaus, Jr. 



Larva. — Length, 4 inches. Head large and very powerful, black, well with- 

 drawn under the second segment, which is dark brown, very broad and hard, and 

 has a lateral depression. Segments 3 and 4 are rather contracted and very hard in 

 texture, the 3rd being dor.^ally and laterally like old ivory, and the 4th having one 

 anterior and two posterior spots of the same character, the three spots 1 eing almo.-t 

 confluent. The rest of the body is a rich velvety brown, and on each se;^ment to tb.e 

 I2th IS a large dorsal ovate spot, placed transversely and of harder consistency than 

 the rest of the skin — these spots also being iv<;ry-yelIow. On segments five and six 

 each are two small ivory-yellow dorsal spots posterior to the larger ones. Between 

 all the spot- the skin has numerous transverse folds. Laterally, behind the stigma 

 on each segment is a small round ivory spot, and below it an ivory line. Last seg- 

 ment entirely velvety brown. The prolegs are very powerful and thick, and ivory- 

 yellow. Underneath on segments five and six are sevei al s|)ots of the same hard 

 formation and color as those of the upper surface, and the abdominal legs which are 

 very short and also ivory -yellow. 



The larva bores a hole of great length (nearly 3 feet) and ustially 

 quite into the roots of the tree, so that in some instances which have 

 come under my observation, nothing was left but the bark of the root 

 between the larva and the earth. The outlet is generally very near the 

 ground, and is covered over with all the matter thrown out from the gal- 

 lery made by the larva combined with a silky substance, the two together 

 forming a pulpy inaterial, which hardens on exposure to the air, and be- 

 comes tough in its nature. Before changing to a pupa the larva spins a 

 silky lid which exactly fits the opening of the gallery, and is firmly at- 

 tached only at one point. By raising this lid, one can see at a glance 

 whether or not a larva or pupa is to be found, for the creature remains 

 close to the outlet, but if once disturbed, it rapidly descends to some 

 safer portion of the gallery, only returning when the danger has passed 

 away. The pupa is nearly as active in its movements as tlie larva. 



I regret that 1 could not discover the .scientific name of the food 

 plant, which is a low tree extremely abundant in the " Tierra templada " 

 of the State of Vera Cruz, and is known to the Mexicans as " Guzanillo" 

 or Maggot tree, owing to the frequency with which the larvae of the 

 Hcp/a/i zxQ found in it. The moths emerge between 3 and 5 in the aftei- 

 noon, but common as are the larvae, 1 never took the imago on the wing, 

 my specimens being all obtained by breeding. 



Mr. Samuel Henshaav is now engaged, under the direction of Pruf. 

 Riley, on the Bibliography of Economic Entomologw The task is an 

 herculean one, and not particularly interesting though undoulitedly 

 valuable. Mr. Henshaw has our sympathv. 



