-64- 



Larva of a Large Species of HEPIALID^E, Phassus 

 triangularis, Hy. Ediv., from Vera Cruz, Mex. 



By VVm. Schaus, Jr. 



Larva. — Length, 4 inclies. Head large and very powerful, black, well with- 

 drawn under the second segment, which is dark browp, very lirond and hard, and 

 has a lateral depress'on. Segments 3 and 4 are rather contracted and very haid in 

 texture, the 3rd being dor.-ally and laterally like old ivory, and the 4th having one 

 anterior and two posterior spots of the same character, the three spots 1 eing ahnor-t 

 confluent. The rest of the body is a. rich velvety brown, anrl on each scijment to tb.e 

 I2th IS a large dorsal ovate spot, placed transversely and of harder consistency than 

 tlie rest of the skin — these spots also being ivory-yellow. On segments five and six 

 each are two small ivory-yellow dorsal sj)Ots posterior to the larger ones. Betweeti 

 all the spots the skin has numerous transverse folds. Laterally, behind the stigma 

 on each segment is a small round ivory spot, and below it an ivory line. Last seg- 

 ment entirely veivety brown. The prole:j;s are very powerful and thick, and ivory- 

 yellow. Underneath on segments five and six are several spots of the same hard 

 formation and color as those of the upper surface, a:id the abdominal legs which are 

 very short and also ivory -yellow. 



The larva bores a hole of great length (nearly 3 feet) and ustially 

 quite into the roots of the tree, so that in sonic instances which have 

 come under my observation, nothing was left but tiie bark of the root 

 between the larva and the earth. The outlet is generally very near the 

 ground, and is covered over with all the matter thrown out from the gal- 

 lery made by the larva combined with a silky substance, the two together 

 forming a pulpy material, which hardens on exposure to the air, and be- 

 comes tough in its nature. Before changing to a pupa the larva spins a 

 silky lid which exactly fits the opening of the gallery, and is firmly at- 

 tached only at one point. By raising this lid, one can see at a glance 

 whether or not a larva or pupa is to be found, for the creature remains 

 close to the butlet, but if once disturbed, it rapiJly descends to some 

 safer portion of the gallery, only returning when the; danger lias passed 

 away. The pupa is nearly as active in its mtiveineiits as the lar\a. 



I regret that 1 could not discover the sciendfic name of the food 

 plant, which is a low tree extremely abundant in the " Tierra templada " 

 of the State of Vera Cruz, and is known to the Mexicans as "Guzanillo" 

 or Maggot tree, owing to the frequency with wliich the larva? of the 

 Hepiali 2at found in it. The moths emerge between 3 and 5 in the after- 

 noon, but common as are the larvee, 1 never took the imago on the wing, 

 my specimens being all obtained by breeding. 



Mr. Samuel Hexshaw is now engaged, under the direction of Prof 

 Riley, on the Bibliography of Economic Entomolog}-. The task is an 

 herculean one, and not particularly interesting thouiih undoubtetlly 

 valuable. Mr. Henshaw has our sympathy. 



