39 



The larvae of Exyra Rolandiana may be found in the smaller 

 leaves of Sarracenia purpurea, in this vicinity, as soon as the 

 snow is off the ground, early in the spring, apparently having 

 moulted two or three times ; tliey are then of a dull reddish 

 brown and about six mm. long. As soon as the weather grows 

 warmer, they increase in size rapidly, and, having eaten the 

 leaf in which they have hibernated, betake themselves to the 

 larger leaves, which they begin to eat, after having made a hole 

 near the base to let the water out, and after having spun a close 

 web over the mouth. The larva reaches its full growth about 

 the tirst of May and later, when it is about 20 mm. long, of a 

 dull carmine or brown color, lighter, sometimes white, between 

 the segments. The cocoon is spun in the leaf, of loose white 

 silk, the larva changing to a pupa a few days after spinning. 

 The imago appears early in June. There is a good deal of 

 variation in the color of the females, some beino; much brighter 

 than others. The following are the extreme measurements of 

 both sexes : males 26-20 mm., females 21-16 mm. In its 

 habits it resembles E. semicrocea, generally backing down to- 

 wards the bottom of the leaf, when disturbed, and using its 

 wings in ascending. I notice that the frenulum at the base of 

 the wings is very long in this species, and, as well as I could 

 see, the moth seems to use it when crawling up the leaf. This 

 species is very delicate and difficult to rear. I have observed 

 four varieties of ichneumon which prey upon the larva, but 

 they have not been determined. Roland Thaxter. 



Proceedings of the Club. 



§ 20. What are the Causes of Assembling among 

 Insects? Some of the phenomena of "assembling" among 

 insects were mentioned. This is for sexual purposes sometimes, 

 but not always. Insects are sometimes attracted from great 

 distances, so that many individuals of a species which is not 

 common may be drawn together at one place. Insects are 

 sometimes attracted to their mates who are in such situations 

 as to preclude the possibility that they could have been seen, 

 as for instance, in a pocket. It is evident that scent is some- 



