INSECTS OF THE HOP HORNBEAM. 647 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE HOP-HORNBEAM OR IRON-WOOD. 



Ostrya virginica. 



This tree doubtless affords food and shelter to a much greater assem- 

 blage of insects than that whose names are here recorded, for little 

 attention has as yet been given to finding them. 



1. Apatelodea torrefacta (Abb. and Sin.). 



According to Abbot and Smith the interesting caterpillar of this fine 

 moth in Georgia " feeds on the iron-wood [or hop-hornbeam], gall- 

 berry, sassafras, etc. It went into the ground June 20; came out the 

 14th of July. Another went in the 17th of October and came out on 

 the 25th of April." 



Dr. Harris describes the larva, and his description, which we copy, 

 agrees almost exactly with Abbot's figure. Harris refers to the moth 

 under the name '^Astasia torrefacta? Sm.-Abb.," but apparently there 

 is little doubt that his larva was of the same species as the one figured 

 by Abbot. He found it on the burdock July 23, 1828, and says it " eats 

 leaves of willow well." Another larva was found on a leaf of Primus 

 virginiana. 



Larva. — Body cylindrical, above pale yellow, beneath greenish black. Segments 

 very distinct, almost annulose, sides and incisures greenish-yellow, head of same 

 color, tips of mandibles black; no tubercles, but the body is covered with lanugi- 

 nous hairs, flexuous backwards, of a pale sulphur color; second segment above, with 

 a long plume of ferruginous hairs, directed a little forwards ; the same segment has 

 a conspicuous, transverse, oval spot each side ; third segment with a black spot on 

 each side ; fourth to ninth, inclusive, with an interrupted black line or on each a 

 linear, dorsal, black spot, furnishing a short fascicle of a few erect black hairs ; legs 

 blackish; pro-legs thick at base, pyriform or tapering at tip, and furnished with a 

 semicircular, unguiferous, red plate. The hairs are all simple or unbearded. 



July 24, A. M. — Cast its skin. The wool which now covers it is of a beautiful white 

 color, the hairs being all directed backwards except those of the first segment, which 

 curve forwards; second and third segments each side, with a dorsal plume of erect 

 hairs, noddiug backwards, blackish at tip ; penultimate segment with a tuft separat- 

 ing into two depressed plumes ; dorsal segments each with a short tuft of erect black 

 hairs; sides with an arrow-shaped, blackish spot, not furnishing hairs. 



August '^^. — Divested itself of its long hairs, and appeared only thinly covered with 

 short ones; length, nearly li inches. 



August 6. — Became a pupa without a cocoon. It would probably have entered the 

 earth if permitted. 



August 4, 1838. — Found on a leaf of Prunus virginiana, a caterpillar with the body 

 pale yellow, covered with flexuous yellow hairs, and an orange- colored pencil, tipped 

 with black, on the anterior part of the eleventh segment. 



August 7. — Changed its skin ; the hairs became white, a pencil on the second, third, 

 and eleventh segments black, and very short black tufts on each of the intervening 

 segments. Body beneath ash-colored ; prolegs with deep orange-colored cushions. 



