INSECTS INJURING OAK-LEAVES. 141 



wiuter, not changing to pupa until the following March or April, or about two weeks 

 before the moths appear. 



The same parasites have been bred from Lagoa as from the Orange Dog. Tachina 

 flies have issued in June from a cocoon found on the orange in March. The hymenop- 

 terous parasite Chalcis robusta issued September 15 from a cocoon collected August 27. 



Larva. — The larva presents the singular appearance of a lock of hair possessing 

 sluggish life and a gliding, suail-Iike motion. It is 1^ inches long, bluntly rounded 

 in front and diminishing rapidly to a point behind. The kair rises in a sharp ridge 

 upon the back, and forms several tufts of rust-red color. 



Moth. — Body very woolly, pale yellow, tinged with brown. The fore-wings are um- 

 ber-brown at the base, fading to pale yellow outwardly ; the surface is marked with 

 fine wavy lines of silver gray, and the fore margins are nearly black. The legs are 

 yellow, with dusky feet. The wings of the male moth spread about one inch; those 

 of the female an inch and a half. 



194. Lacosoma chirodota Grote. 



The following account of this insect is copied from Professor Riley's 

 notes. It is very rare and of curious habits, and like the succeeding 

 species never likely to abound sufficiently to be injurious. 



Larvae of this insect were found in Virginia in September, feeding on the oak. It 

 is a true case-bearer, resembling very much Perophora melsheimerii, differing, however, 

 principally in the absence of the long antennae-like horns. Its general color is yellow- 

 ish-green; the head is brown, with yellow markings, and is coarsely rugose and 

 punctured. Each side of the thoracic segments are two more or less confluent, brown, 

 subdorsal lines, and on the last segment are some rather indistinct pale-brownish 

 markings. Thoracic legs reddish-yellow. Stigmata black, with pale center. The case 

 is constructed of a single leaf, which is bent longitudinally, the edges turned upward 

 and held in place by a strong white web. This case is suspended by some threads and 

 fastened to the surrounding leaves, and the larva issues partly when feeding, but 

 retreats suddenly when disturbed. The case is open at both ends, so that the larva 

 can turn and feed from which end it pleases. 



Since the last of November they have ceased feeding, but did not transform to the 

 pupa till the 28th of the followiug January, when they were noticed to change the 

 position of their case and to suspend it in another place. The moth issued the 10th 

 of February. The same insect was also receiA'^ed from Miss M. Murtfeldt, Kirkwood, 

 Mo. 



It is interesting to compare this larva with that of Perophora, and the 

 following description, in addition to that given above, I have drawn up 

 from Professor Riley's alcoholic specimen : 



Larva. — Head large, about as wide as the prothoracic segment, but not so wide as 

 the body, which is thickest in the middle. Head brown, slightly marbled with a paler 

 hue. Prothoracic segment with a lateral reddish-brown stripe, which is continued 

 upon the succeeding segment, but becomes more diffuse ; below are two short unequal 

 reddish lines; there are no markings on the rest of the body. Body moderately long 

 and obtuse at the end ; the supra-anal plate unusually large, broad and rounded, 

 with six long marginal hairs. All the abdominal legs short and thick. Spiracles 

 very distinct and visible from above. Antennae minute, of the usual size, not elon- 

 gated as in Perophora; otherwise the larvaj of the two insects are very similar. 

 Length, 23™™. 



Moth. — This moth seems to connect the true Psychidte with Perophora. It resembles 

 this last named genus in its broad head, the broadly pectinated antennae, the general 

 form of the subfalcate wings, and in its coloration. As in Perophora, it has but a 



