THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 85 



insect is sufficiently common in the Gulf States to sometimes 

 be found in every third plant over extended regions, its work 

 renders the Yucca worthless as a hedge-plant, for which it 

 lias been tried. 



In the months of April and May, in South Carolina, but 

 earlier in more southern latitudes, the parent Megathymus 

 may be observed, where the Yuccas abound, passing, with 

 very rapid, darting flight, from plant to plant, remaining but 

 a few seconds at one place, during which she fastens an egg 

 to some portion of a leaf. She is generally seen at this work 

 in the morning hours. The eggs, which are well developed 

 when she issues from the pupa, are laid singly, though 

 several are often attached to the same leaf, generally near its 

 tip, and on the upper or under side indifferently. In the 

 course of about ten days the young reddish brown larva 

 gnaws its way out through the crown of the egg, and conceals 

 itself in a web between «ome of the more tender terminal 

 leaves. Generally it will be found at first near the tip of a 

 leaf, where the sides naturally roll up and afford a safe 

 retreat. It then gradually works to the base, feeding the 

 while, and rolling and shrivelling the blade as it descends. 

 Other blades are often joined; and, in fact, the insect lives 

 among the blades till it is about one-fourth grown, and 

 seldom enters the trunk before that time. How soon, in the 

 larval development, the white, powdery secretion, already 

 spoken of, appears, or how many larval moults occur, has not 

 been ascertained; but the more mature larva is always more 

 or less covered with this powdery matter, which doubtless 

 serves as a protection from the mucilaginous liquid which 

 the tissues of the Yuccas contain and freely exude upon 

 interference or maceration. Pupation does not take place 

 till the subsequent late winter or spring; there being, from 

 all that I can ascertain, but one brood each year. The 

 burrow^ often extends two or more feet below ground, and 

 during the coldest weather the larva probably remains in a 

 partially dormant state at the bottom. Occasionally two 

 larvae inhabit the same trunk ; in which case their tunnellings 

 are kept separate, side by side. The pupa state is generally 

 assumed just below the chimney-like funnel at the top of the 

 burrow, and no other preparation is made for it than partial 

 closing, near head and tail, to insine suspension. This 



