116 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 

 FKKDING ON THE BUDS. 



160. Mamestra detracta Walk. 



The following observations have been recorded by Professor Riley : * 



Larvae of this species were noticed, April 30, 1884, near Rock Creek, Washington, 

 D. C, feeding at night on the buds of oak, and others were seen resting on the twigs 

 of different kinds of trees and shrubs. 



They transformed to pupae by the 2d of May, and the moths commenced issuing by 

 the 23d of the same month. The pupa is quite active, and if placed on a table is 

 able to crawl readily, on account of the spines along its sides. 



Moth.— Dark gray. Hind wings black. Expanse of wings, 1.20 inches. 



161. Agrotis alternata Grt. 



The larvae of the above species were observed, during April, 1884, to climb all 

 kinds of trees and shrubs and to feed on the buds, especially those of the oak and 

 hickory. They seemed to prefer, however, the hickory, as on some of the smaller 

 bushes almost every bud had a hole, sometimes even two or three, and the worms 

 may often be observed when feeding to have penetrated so far that only about one- 

 half of their body projects from the bud. On one small oak shrub six of these larvae 

 were found at work. Numbers of these larvae were also noticed at night to feed on 

 the liquid which was placed on the trunk of oak trees for the purpose of capturing 

 moths. They would feed in confinement on almost any kind of leaves from trees aud 

 shrubs and also on grass. By the 1st of May numbers of them were noticed every 

 evening, as soon as it became dark, to ascend the trunks of the trees and shrubs. 



Some begin at this date to enter the ground for transformation, and the moths issue 

 from the 6th to about the end of June. (Riley.) 



Moth. — Color reddish brown, sprinkled with dark brown atoms. Lines obliterated. 

 No white along the costa. Subterminal space darker than the rest. The wings 

 tinged with grayish ; no ante-apical spot. Expanse of wings, 1.50 inches. (French.) 



162. Scopelosoma sidus Guen. 



This (writes Prof. Riley) is one of the earliest nootuids of the season. 

 Specimens which were captured March 24, 1884, at sugar, commenced 

 to deposit their eggs the following day, the larvae hatching therefrom 

 in about fifteen days. Kot finding any leaves they commenced at once 

 to attack the leaf-buds of oak, wild cherry, apple, peach, and perhaps 

 other trees and shrubs, into which they bore. 



Thelarvse commence entering the ground by about the 10th of May, 

 and the moths emerge from the last of September to the early part of 

 November, many, however, remaining as pupse till the next spring. 



Larvre of the species were found in May at St. Louis, Mo., feeding 

 on blackberry, the moth issuing in October. 



Eggs. — Globular, with numerous fine ridges, of a yellowish-white, which gradually 

 changes into a light brownish color. 



The netvly hatched larvw are whitish with black head and dusky thoracic plate and 

 legs. The first molt takes place about seven days after hatching, and with it 

 there is quite a change in coloration. The thoracic segments, a broad lateral stripe, 

 and the anal segment are reddish. The warts are prominent, black, bearing a short, 

 fine hair. 



* For this habit of low-plant feeders eating the buds of trees in early spring, see 

 Weismann's Studies in the Theory of Descent, i, 271. 



