THE VAGABOND CRAMBUS : SPECIES DETERMINED. 139 



two days before, from cocoons which he had also received from Water- 

 town. It proved to be the species known as Crambus vulgivagelliis 

 Clemens, identical with that, it is believed by our best authorities, 

 subsequently described by Professor Zeller, as Crambus chalyhirostris. 

 The interesting and perplexing question of the preceding three months 

 — to which of our insect depredators was chargeable the ravages in 

 Northern New York, more serious in the extent of territory embraced 

 than an army-worm invasion — was decided. The new enemy — the 

 latest addition to our list of formidable insect pests — was found to be a 

 modest, inconspicuous, and hitherto unobtrusive Crambus. 



The species has been known to entomologists for many years. It has 

 been rather a common insect, having had name and place in most of 

 our collections. Nothing was known of its life-history, and it had 

 never been recorded as in the slightest degree injurious. Now that it 

 has so suddenly achieved notoriety, a popular name seems to be needed 

 for it, for the use of those who would find it more convenient and 

 agreeable than any of the class that they delight to stigmatize as 

 "jaw-breaking Latin names." It is not always easy to select a com- 

 mon name which shall be both correct and distinctive, especially in a 

 group where there are many species almost identical in appearance and 

 habits. In view of this difficulty existing in the present instance, we have 

 resorted, as has often been done, to a translation of the scientific 

 name, and have designated the species as the Vagabond Cram- 

 bus. If there is ever satisfaction in a resort to objurgatory epithets, 

 this one may afford to the farmer, who contemplates its fearful rav- 

 ages in his pastures, a measure of relief akin to that which might be 

 experienced in a free translation of the scientific name of the wasp, 

 Vespa diaboUca, by one who had just experienced its venomous sting. 



Family Characteristics. 

 To those who are not familiar with that division of the pyralid ' 

 moths to which this species belongs — the Crambidm — it may be of 

 interest to state that they are small moths, usually less than an inch 

 in spread of wings, and presenting in general the following features : 

 The antennae are thread-like ; the palpi projecting like a beak for 

 some distance in front of the head ; body and legs long and slender ; 

 the front wings are narrow and long and are often ornamented with 

 dots and lines in silver or gold ; the hind wings are semicircular and 

 plain, and in repose are folded like a fan under the front wings ; both 

 pairs, when the insect is at rest, are wrapped tightly around the body 

 in cylindrical form. They frequent meadows and pastures during the 

 latter part of summer, and when driven up by approaching footsteps, 

 they fly for a short distance with a staccato flight, when they alight 



