Report of the State Entomologist. 58 



pressed opeu the lid, aud working half its length out of the cocoon, 



the empty pupal case was held iu this position after the escape of the 



moth. 



Is a Southern Insect. 



Lagoa opercularit^ is a Southern insect, but according to Mr. J. B. 

 Smith, it is somewhere recorded as occurring within the State of New 

 York. It has also occurred at Reading, Pa., which is but a small 

 fraction of a degree south of the southern limits of New York. In its 

 western range, it extends, at least, into Texas. 



The Caterpillar. 



Mr. H. Gr. Hubbard, an Assistant of the Division of Entomology at 

 Washington, has included Lagoa opercularis in his Report on the In,^ecfs 

 Affecting the Orange (the accompanying illustrations are from the 

 Report), and has written of it as follows: 



The caterpillars of this moth are covered with long, silk}' hair [see 

 the figure], underneath which are concealed shorter, stiff hairs, 

 exceedingly sharp at the points, and powerfully nettling when they 

 penetrate the flesh. Upon some i:)ersons the invisible wounds made 

 by these hairs produce swellings, aud an amount of irritation equiva- 

 lent to a sting; the larvye are, in consequence, popularly supposed to 

 be very poisonous. When young, the caterpillars are white and 

 resemble a flock of cott(m wool. They undergo six molts, at one of 

 the last of which they become darker, tlie color varying in individuals, 

 from red-brown to light clay-color. AYhen full-grown, the larvas 

 present the singular appearance of a lock of hair possessing sluggish 

 life, and a gliding, snail-like motion. Its peculiar appearance is well 

 illustrated in the figure given. 



Dr. Packard has pointed out an interesting feature in the larva of 

 Lagoa cri^pata, which, in all probability, exists also in L. 02)er-ei(larii<, 

 viz.: it has seven pairs of abdominal or false legs, instead of the 

 normal number of five pairs. They are located as follows: 



The first abdominal segment is footless; the second bears rudiment- 

 ary feet; segments 3-6 bear normal prop-legs; the seventh bears a 

 pair of rudimentary legs ; segments eight and nine ai"e footless, while 

 tiie tenth bears the fully-developed anal or fifth pair of genuine 

 prop-legs. 



While these two pairs of tiibercles differ from the normal legs in 

 being much smaller and Avithout a crown of curved spines, they are 

 protruded and actively engaged iu locomotion : in situation, as well as 

 in the presence of the basal tufts they are truly homologous with the 

 normal abdominal legs. (American Naturaliat, xix, 1885, pp. 714-715). 



