[77] 



Report of the State Entomologist. 



219 



in their disc-like covering were to be seen on the leaves and branches 

 of the trees and on the undergrowth. The following season clouds of 

 the perfect insect would i-ise from the foliage when disturbed by the 

 passers-by. 



Elsewhere in Canada — which, from the above accounts, would seem 

 to be the home of this insect, from which it, at times, extends south- 

 ward into Vermont and New York — it has been observed in the 

 London district by Mr. E. Baynes Reed, who records it {loc. cit.) as 

 more or less common every year in that locality, and notably in the 



year 1872. 



Caterpillar and Moth Described. 



The larva is described by Dr. Fitch as nearly one-fourth of an inch 

 long at maturity ; slender, and of a flattened cylindrical form, soft 

 and contractile, its segments marked by slight, intervening constric- 

 tions. It is of a dull white; the head, which is strongly depressed, 

 and the three thoracic segments are pale rusty-brown ; an inter- 

 rupted broad, blackish stripe, more or less distinct, traverses the 

 middle of the back. 



The moth measures 0.35 inch ac ss its forewings, which are 

 of a brilliant steel-blue color, or sometimes bluish-green, with 



a purple reflectiouj 



'iC"^!^ and without spots. 



The hind wings are 



7/ la ty^,^ ^ pale smoky-brown 



and translucent. 

 Fig. 23.- Tho maple-leaf cut- ^y^^j^ ^g blue and 



ter, InCUEVAKIA ACEEIFOLIELLA . 



(after Fitch). purple reflections 



and a pale brown fringe, 

 the head, between the antennae is a tuft of erect bright orange hairs. 

 The thorax is brilliant steel-blue, and the abdomen of a dark satiny- 

 brown. 



Figure 23 (after Fitch) represents the moth in enlargement, and 

 Figure 24 (after Clemens) the neuration of its wings. 



Remedies. 



As the insect pupates within the leaves, and remains in them after 

 their fall during the winter, its numbers may be greatly reduced in 

 maple groves by permitting cattle or sheep to range therein, and 

 attracting them to the more particularly infested trees, if such there 

 are, by feeding salt beneath them, as suggested by Dr. Fitch. 



When isolated shade trees are attacked, as they sometimes are (on 

 the authority of Mr. Keed), the depredations may be arrested by 

 spraying with Loudon purple — one pound to 200 gallons of water 



^ , Fig. 24.— Neurutiou of winsj 



On the crown of of the maple-leaf cutter. 



