THE STRIPED (iARDEN CATERPTLLAR. 



29 



oriiaiiieiited are black and yellow, as with the zebra caterpillar, Ijiit the 

 lateral stripe is divided into two portions, the upper one lighter than 

 the lower, and the entire lateral surface when marked consists of 

 regular stripes, whereas in the other species these stripes are broken 

 up. 



The fiipa^ when mature, is nearly black in color, and has the 

 appearance illustrated (fig. 7, r). It measures about five-eighths of 

 an inch in length, including the ti])s. 



BIOLOGIC NOTES. 



This species was l)rie(ly mentioned as ha\ing been found by tlie 

 writer in the larval condition on aspara^iis at Marshall Hall. Md.. 

 in October. ISOB." At that time it 

 was impossible to ascertain whether 

 or not it In'ed from eggs deposited 

 on this ])lant. but later observations 

 conducted in company with Mr. 

 F. C. Pratt during the first and sec- 

 ond "weeks of October show con- 

 clusiA^ely that such must be the case, 

 as larva» were found in the greatest 

 abundance on three large patches of 

 asparagus at Brookland. I). C. 

 TheA^ usually occurred singly. Init 

 occasionally in })airs. 



During the heat of the day, in 

 the moderately cool and seasonable 

 Indian summer weather usual at 

 Washington at that time of the 

 j^ear. many larva^ would ])e found 

 stretched out upon dr^' sprigs of 

 asparagus, and in spite of their 

 bright colors they would easily have 

 escaped the observation of anyone without expe^-ience in insect col- 

 lecting. The larva, in fact, furnishes a good exam|)le of protective 

 coloration. An individual would be iu plain sight, and then if one's 

 eyes were directed elsewhere for a moment it would sometimes be 

 difficult to find it again, although it might be within a fool of the 

 observer. 



LarVcT obtained October T and later were kept feeding on asparagus 

 in our rearing cages until the third week of ()ctol)er. when they de- 

 scended io the earth and soon afterwards assumed the pupal condition. 

 The exact date of the assimiption of the chrysalis form was not ascer- 



c- 



FiG. 7. — The ^-1 lipid liaitliu caterpillar 

 {Mawentra lc(/itiinu) : a, \6u\t ; b. 

 larva from above ; c,.same from side ; 

 d, head of same from front : e, 

 pupa. All natural size except d, 

 which is enlarged (from noward). 



a Bill. in. n. s.. Div. Ent. T'. S. Dept. Asrr.. p. 00. 



