Twelfth Report of the State Entomologist 215 



four different individuals. Although it appears never to have been so 

 abundant as to cause much damage, yet it is most probable that careful 

 observation would reveal its presence in many hitherto unsuspected 

 localities. 



Burrowing in the Petioles of Maple Leaves. 



The following communication from a correspondent of the Country 

 Gentkfnan, gives a brief account of the operations of this insect 

 when for the first time detected upon the maple (in 1895), so far as 

 any record is to be found : 



I enclose leaves of sugar maple, the petioles of which are infested with 

 a minute larva. My attention was first attracted by numerous green and 

 half withered leaves lying on the ground with only a short portion of the 

 petiole attached, which led me to look for the remaining portion; this I 

 found attached to the tree, with a small channel extending towards its 

 base. At the end of this was the larva. About a year ago I passed 

 some rows of sugar maples appearing as mine do now, and I attributed 

 the cause to a fungoid blight, but without examination. W. T. 



Concordville, Pa. 



When fallen maple leaves have been noticed during the early part of 

 the year, it has usually been ascribed either to frost or some fungus 

 attack. But in this instance, the leaves affected in the manner stated 

 happening to come under the eye of a close observer, the cause was 

 looked for, and careful search disclosed it in a small caterpillar burrow- 

 ing within the portion of the leaf-stalk remaining upon the tree.* 



From the examples of the leaves and separate portions of the stems 

 or petioles sent, the operations of the caterpillars have been followed and 

 its species determined. It proves to be the larva of a small Tortricid 

 moth which has received the name of SteganoplycJia Claypoliana — after 

 Prof. Claypole, who had studied and made first publication of the insect 

 when working in the leaf-stalk of the horse-chestnut, in Ohio. 



Confused with a Closely Allied Insect. 



This species was confused at first with a closely allied form, Proteoteras 

 cesculana Riley, reared from larvae found boring the leaf-stalks and the 

 tender terminal twigs of the buckeye and maple in Missouri, and was 

 referred to this form. A little later, it was regarded and described by 

 Prof Riley as a distinct species of the genus. Finally it was referred 

 to Steganopiycha by Prof Fernald. 



* Mr. Zabriskie has placed on record an injury to ttie petioles of maples at Flatbush, L. I., 

 which is most probably the work of this insect {%eeJour?i. N. I'. Entomolog. Soc. iii, 1895, p. 144). 



