158 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



216. Lochmceus manteo Doubleday {Heterocampa suialbicana Grote). 



This species rangfes from Maine to Texas. During 1880 a great amount 

 of damage was done to the foliage of oak forests in at least two counties 

 of Arkansas by this worm, which appeared in immense numbers in Jan- 

 uary. The following account is taken from Professor Comstock's re- 

 port (Agricultural Report, 1880) : 



There are probably two broods of the variable caterpillar in the course of the sea- 

 son, although but one, the fall brood, seems to have been noticed. The moths appear 

 in the latter part of April or in early May, and between that time and late Septem- 

 ber, when the principal damage is done by the worms, there is abundant time for two- 

 broods of caterpillars. 



In the District of Columbia for the last two years these larvae have been noticed very 

 abundantly upon oak, hawthorn, and basswood, and doubtless feed upon other plants. 

 In late September they had reached their full size and entered the ground, where, 

 as we gatherfrom Mrs. Thomas's letter, they lie most of the winter before transforming. 



The most obvious remedy for the injuries of this insect is the destruction of the 

 larvae by burning the leaves upon the ground in the latter part of September, just as 

 the larvae are dropping from the trees. This could probably be done in most places 

 without danger to the forest and without injury to the mast. 



Should the damage done by the worms be sufficiently great to warrant the expense 

 of trap lanterns to be used in May to destroy the moths, undoubtedly their numbers 

 could be greatly lessened. For description of trap lanterns, with remarks upon their 

 use, see page 330 of the report for 1879 (Comstock). 



Professor Riley sends us the following notes on its habits and food 

 plants : 



Two larvae of a Notodonta were found feeding on oak and persimmon in Virginia, 

 June 18, 1882. Another one was found June 20, also in Virginia, feeding on walnut ; 

 and two more July 19, feeding on oak. (It also feeds on the white, post, aad laurel 

 oak, and linden). One of the first found larvic spun up between leaves July 19, and 

 another one pupated on the surface of the ground July 21. The first moth issued 

 August 5 aud the other one August 12. 



Larvae of a second brood were again fouud August 30 feeding on apple and black 

 birch, and another full grown one September 3, feeding on persimmon. 



October 14, 1870: S. S. Rathvon describes it as injurious to the linden trees, 

 stripping them^nd going from one tree to another in the village of Lititz, near Lan- 

 caster, Pa. They went into the ground about the 1st of September. The specimen 

 he sent had fifteen large Tachina-fly eggs attached transversely across the end and 

 third joints. The white margin to the black stripe was missing, and the dark pur- 

 jile dorsal band extends to stigmata on joints 6 and 9 and to subdorsum on 4 and 

 11 (box 3, No. 29), also a variety in box 3, No. 53. 



October 17, 1870: Bolter found 2 under oak leaves, both of them like that I found 

 on oak October 2, 1870. 



April 30, 1871, one has issued from an exotic oak in Shaw's gardens. The markings 

 are much more dift'used, with a large whitish discal spot on piinuiries. That marked 

 45" from burr oak — Muhleman, issued May 25, 1871. It is a variety and perfectly de- 

 ceptive like N. unicornis, taking the same tubular position. 



Very abundant in 1873. October 12, leaves falling, obtained many from post oak. 

 Three most persistent forms blown a (4 in cage 12) b (11 in cage 11) c (1 in cage 10). 



July 6, 1874 : The imagines have been issuing very irregularly. To-day I sieved 

 the cages and especially 17, in wnich there were a number of all three forms. They 

 now are all alike, aud the head is the only characteristic part. All the color i» 

 gone from the body, which is now of a uniform Paris green more or less mottled 



