850 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



die of the wings. An oblique black band broken in the cell crosses the middle of the 

 wing. A black patch rests on the costa before the apex, marked with one or two 

 white costal spots; a similarly colored patch within and above the anal angle, and 

 still another on the outer border inclosing the apex, sends in a square projection to- 

 wards the end of the cell. All the black markings are overlaid more or less with 

 white scales, and the white portions of the wings are somewhat stained with gray. 

 The fringes are dark smoky-brown. 



The hind wings and abdomen above are ashy gray. Fringes lighter. Under side 

 of the fore wings ashy gray, with the white costal marks reproduced. Under side of 

 the hind wiags whitish, irrorate with gray. Expanse of wings, 16 to IS""™. 



Bred from the fir by Dr. A. S. Packard, for whom I name this species in recognition 

 of his extensive and valuable work on North American insects. (Fernald.) 



31. The red spruce bud- worm. 



Gelechia obUquistrigella Chambers. 



Associated with the preceding bud worm there occurred in abundance, 

 both on the terminal shoots of the spruce and fir, a little reddish cylin- 

 drical caterpillar, about two-thirds as large as the larva of Teras vari- 

 ana, and very active in its habits. It occurred as early as the 10th of 

 June, but it disappeared earlier than the caterpillar of Teras variana, 

 and the moths, which were common, flying in spruce at and soon after 

 the middle of July, were not seen after the first week in August. 



The caterpillars were beaten from the 

 trees from June 10 to July 17 ; after that it 

 was impossible to find any of them. The 

 moths began to appear July lG-19, and 

 continued to emerge in the breeding boxes 

 until August 1. The duration of the pupa 

 state is about one week. 



FIG. 284. Gelechia omg^cutrigeUa. " '« ^""'^^^^ that the SpCCiCS iS SinglC- 



brooded and that the caterpillar is hatched 

 in August, and becomes nearly full-grown in the early autumn, 

 hibernating when nearly full-fed, since the fully grown caterpillars 

 are abundant by the first week of June. The species has been identi- 

 fied for me by Professor Fernald. It was described from Kentucky 

 by Mr. Chambers, but the larva and food-plant have been hitherto un- 

 known. 



When about to pupate it spins a small, thin, delicate cocoon, being a 

 tubular case of silk covered with bits of the scales of the spruce or fir 

 buds. It is placed next to the shoot in the debris made by the larva at 

 the base of the leaves. Length, 6'^"' ; diameter, 2'"'^^ 



Larva. — Body cylindrical, of the usual form, reddish brown in color, and about 

 6 to 7'"™ in length. 



Pupa. — Body rather thick, of the usual pale mahogany brown color, the antennae 

 and tips of the wings on the under side reaching to the middle of the fifth abdominal 

 segment. End of the abdomen full and rounded, with about ten unequal, irregularly 

 situated slender bristles, which are slightly curved at the end ; besides these there 

 are several fine bristles along the side of the body near the tip. Length, 5™". 



