1922] 



Ainslie: Cramhus laqueatellus Clem. 



129 



record of moths taken at Nashville in 1916 by Mr. W. B. 

 Cartwright bears this out: 



Date Taken 



May 5 

 May 6 



May 8 



Of the 38 specimens taken in the field in 1914, 22 were 

 males; of the 118 taken in 1915, 101 were males, and of 94 

 taken in 1919, 75 were males. Of the total taken in the three 

 years, 79% were males. Felt's (1894) record shows that in 

 1889 at Ithaca, N. Y., 55 moths were captured in a lantern 

 trap, 26 of them males and 28 females, this being the only 

 one of all the species which he worked where the females 

 captured at light exceeded the males. In our work no trap 

 lights have been operated near where these moths were known 

 to occur. None were taken at light at Nashville, and but 

 one, a male, at Knoxville. We have been unable to verify 

 Felt's statement that the females fly later in the day than 

 the males. 



The adults of both sexes are vigorous and live longer in 

 confinement than those of most species. Eighty-four males 

 collected on various dates lived on the average 4.7 days con- 

 fined in dry 2-dram vials; 21 females under the same conditions 

 averaged 5.8 days. In the open, under normal conditions, the 

 moths of both sexes probably live much longer than this. The 

 sexes are more nearly equal in their vitality than is usual in 

 this group, for in confinement the males of other species usually 

 die very much sooner than the females. One male lived 11 

 days, which is longer than any female survived. 



The great vitality of these moths is also displayed by the 

 fecundity of the females. Felt states that the species is prolific 

 and we have found this to be true, in fact, this is the most 

 prolific species in this genus of which we have any knowledge. 

 His record of "over two hundred" eggs was far surpassed. 

 One moth laid 868 eggs, the largest number obtained from any 

 individual of any species of this genus so far. Others laid 

 832, and 720, and eight laid over 500 each. The average for 



