LOCUST LEAF-MINERS 365 



gray, and of the same color beaeath, while the legs are of a very pale straw-yellow. 

 It ditfers from most of the species of the geims iu having the apex of the fore-wiugs. 

 less rounded than usual, and in this and other respects it is allied to the Europeaa 

 D. laterella. 



10. The locust leaf-miner. 



Gracillaria roMniella (Fitch). 



Order Lepidoptera; family Tineidje. 



Mining the leaf in July, making a blotch on the upper surface of the leaf, with a 

 number of lateral galleries running out from it, on each side, a flattened pale green 

 worm which passes the chrysalis state in the leaf, the latter falling to the ground, and 

 the following June giving out a minute moth. 



This is a comruou leaf-raiuer of tlie locust iu the New England a» 

 well as the Middle States. Out of the seventeen leaflets which form 

 the locust leaf, usually two or three aud ofteu more make the blotches. 

 The mines are not tenanted, Clemens states, at the time the leaf is- 

 mined by Lithocolletis rohiniella (Clem., Proc. Phil. Acad., 1860). 



The larva makes a pale yellowish mine, usually on the midrib, with 

 lateral branches running out from it. It pupates in a small nidus on 

 some object on the ground. 



The late Mr. Chambers wrote me that it is common in New Orleans^ 

 in February. 



The moth. — Fore-wings line brown, somewhat golden, shaded with dark brown. 

 Along the costa are three oblique silvery streaks; on the inner margin are three sil- 

 very dorsal spots, placed opposite the spaces between the costal streaks. Near the 

 tip of the wing is a transvefse narrow curved silvery line, passing from the costa to- 

 the inner angle. (Clemens.) 



11. The locust skipper. 



Eudamus tityrus Fabricius. 



Drawing the leaves together in July, a large pale-green caterpillar about 2 inchea 

 long, with a red neck aud large red head, with a large yellow spot on each side of 

 the mouth, feeding by night, sometimes pupating between the leaves, aud transform- 

 ing into a stout-bodied, brown butterfly with a skipping, rapid, strong, low flight, 

 and antennae flattened and bent over at the end. (Harris.) 



These voracious worms sometimes strip the leaves of the common 

 locust and especially the viscid locust {Robinia viscosa), which is culti- 

 vated iu New England as an ornamental tree. According to Harris, 

 the females lay their eggs singly during June or early in July on the 

 leaveo, the caterpillars hatch in July, and when quite small conceal 

 themselves under a fold of the edge of a leaf, which is bent over their 

 bodies and secured by means of silken threads. When they become 

 larger they attach two or more leaves together, so as to form a kind of 

 cocoon or leafy case to shelter them from the weather, and to screen 

 them from the prying eyes of birds. One end of the leafy case is left 

 open, and from this the insect comes forth to feed. They transform to 



