THE PINE LEAF-MINER. 793 



the leaves are shortened, the larva feeding upon one after another only at the end, 

 thus shortening them gradually until the larva is fullj' grown, when-there are some- 

 times one or more of the leaves left untouched. Those first attacked gradually become 

 dry and yellow, loosening from their bases, and are only held in place by the green 

 ones. 



The full-grown larva is three-eighths of an inch long, of a yellowish green color, 

 with dark or blackish head and olive-green thoracic plate. 



The moths emerged from the 26th of December to the 30th of January, and have 

 the head, thorax, and fore wings of a dull rust-red color, with two oblique paler 

 bands, one a little before the middle, the other beyond, parallel to it, crossing the 

 fore wings. Hind wings and upper side of the abdomen silky gray. Expanse of 

 wings, half an inch. 



These moths are not easily disturbed, and if the branches upon which they are 

 sitting be shaken they drop to the ground, feigning death, not even moving when 

 touched. 



Specimens were sent to Professor Fernald for determination, who replied as fol- 

 lows : 



" This species has been determined for me by Professor Zeller as Tortrix politana 

 Haw. It feeds here on white pine as you describe, but Wilkinson gives Myrica gale 

 as the food plant in England, and Heinemann gives Ranunculus acria and Centaurea 

 jacea as food plants in Germany. If our species is really identical with the European 

 T. politana it must be very polyphagus." * 



He further says : 



" I am not able to learn that it ever has been observed feeding upon any of the Coni- 

 fer ce in Europe." 



As Professor Fernald thinks there is still a chance that this is not identical with 

 the European Tortrix politana Haw., he has prepared the following description lor 

 this report: 



Imago of Tortrix (Lophoderus) politana Haw. — Alar expanse, 1.3-14™'". Head, palpi, 

 thorax above, and upper side of forewiugs, yellowish-red. Thoracic tuft, basal patch, 

 oblique and apical bands dark rust-red. The space between the basal patch and 

 central oblique band is narrow, scarcely lighter than the basal patch, and indicated 

 by a lighter edging on each side of the space which begins at the basal third of the 

 costa and extends obliquely across the wing to the middle of the hinder margin. 

 The space beyond the central baud is similar to the last, beginning near the outer 

 third of the costa and extending obliquely across the wing to the anal angle. The 

 outer margin in some specimens is of the same color as the interspaces, and the costa 

 is more or less flecked with light yellow. Fringe yellowish, with grayish scales at 

 the anal angle. Hind wings and abdomen above, silky gray or slate color; under 

 side and fringes lighter. Under side of fore wings light fuscous, with lighter yellow- 

 ish diffused spots along the costa and outer border. Under side of abdomen and 

 thorax light straw yellow, as are also the legs. Fore and middle legsannulated with 

 brown. 



126. The pine leaf-miner. 



Gelechia 2>i»ifoUeUa Chambers, 



Order Lepidoptera ; family Tineid^k. 



Mining the leaves of different species of pine, a minute, brown, narrow, cylindrical 

 laTva. 



'' For several years the leaves of the commou pitch pine (Pinvsrigida) 

 in the vicinity of Ithaca, IST. Y,, have been seen to be extensively mined 

 by the larvte of a Tineid, the life history of which we have first studied 

 the present season. The end of the leaf, and in many cases the entire 



