MAPLE LEAF-MINEES. 409 



The following additional facts are quoted from Mr. James Fletcher's 

 report as entomologist to the Dominion Government for 1885 : 



The hard maples {A. saccharinum and A. saccharinum v.-nigrutn) in many localities 

 about Ottawa have been found to be attacked, to a moderate extent, by the curious 

 case-bearing larvae of this pretty little moth ; but on the 12th September last enormous 

 numbers were found to be destroying the foliage adjoining the Government House 

 grounds. The maple trees, for a space of perhaps 4 acres, had the foliage almost all 

 consumed, and the flat disk-like cases which had fallen from the leaves were carpet- 

 ing the ground, and were also seen in great numbers on the sides of the trees; these 

 larva} probably had been blown down before mature, and were returning to the 

 foliage to feed. Growing amongst the maples were some beech trees, and these were 

 also eaten after the leaves of the maple had all been devoured. The attack was 

 very severe. The leaves were so perforated and skeletonized, that instead of the 

 woods being green they were cream-colored in hue. The larvae, wlien full-grown, 

 are about a quarter of an inch in length, with a brown flattened head, and are of 

 a dirty white color. They cut from the leaves small oblong wads, from which they 

 form cases, which they carry about with them as they feed. The case seems to be 

 fastened at one side to the leaf, and the larva then eats the green part of the upper 

 surface, in circles or parts of circles, leaving the fibers and lower surface untouched. 

 When it has consumed all within reach it moves on to another spot. The cases of 

 the mature larvie are formed of four wads, two of which are about one-eighth of an 

 inch in diameter, and the larger pair about three-eighths. When full-fed, which 

 at Ottawa is iu September, the larva; fall to the ground inside their cases, where 

 they change to pupse in a few days, and do not emerge as moths until late in the fol- 

 lowing spring. 



The Rev. T. W. Fyles, of South Quebec, sends me the following account of a visit- 

 ation, similar to the one experienced at Ottawa last year : " This insect was exceed- 

 ingly abundant in Missisquoi County in the year IbSl. I noticed it particularly in 

 the maple groves belonging to Hon. G. B. Baker, iVI. P., and Mr. G. F. Shufelt, near 

 the village of Sweetsburgh, Quebec. The leaves throughout extensive maple woods 

 were so skeletonized that they presented a brown and scorched appearance that was 

 very remai'kable. It seemed as if a hot blast had passed over large tracts of the 

 woodland. Myriadsof the larvae iu their disk- like coatings were to be seen on the 

 leaves and stems of the trees and on the undergrowth. Next season clouds of the 

 perfect insects would rise from the foliage shaken by the passers-by." 



47. Catastega aceriella Clemens. 



The larva forms a moderately long, slender, cylindrical tube at the 

 base of the leaf of maple, A. rubrum, early in July, and is covered with 

 a thin transparent web closed in advance. The tube increases in diame- 

 ter from the beginning to the end, and is placed between two principal 

 veins of the leaf, and the web is extended from one vein to the other. 



48. Lithocolletis aceriella Clemens. 



The larva mines the leaf of maple in September. It mines the upper 

 surface of the leaf, making a flat, rather broad track, casting its "frass" 

 along the middle of the course of it. Physical characteristics like those 

 of the second larval group. The cocoon is circular. The larva is like- 

 wise found in the leaf of Hamamelis virginica. (Clemens.) 



