1922] Ainslie: Crambus laqueatellus Clem. 131 



to molt to the second instar. None succeeded, however, and 

 all finally died. 



The next year the test was repeated, using moss of several 

 different species. The larvae fed to a slight extent on several 

 of them, but throve and finally matured on only one, Thuidium 

 delicatulum (L.) Mitt. It is very likely that other species 

 are equally as acceptable as this one. After the first instar 

 leaves of bluegrass, corn, cow peas and crabgrass were offered 

 them frequently and as they grew older some of the larvae fed 

 to a greater or less extent but without showing any marked 

 preference. They continued at the same time to feed on the 

 moss and some of them reached maturity without other food. 

 It was plainly evident that moss is absolutely essential to the 

 young larvce, as we never succeeded in getting them beyond 

 the first instar without it. In the later instars their appetites 

 are a little more elastic, but even then they do not appear to 

 thrive as well on a diet limited to grasses as when they have 

 a little moss for an appetizer. 



As stated above, nothing is known of the behavior of the 

 larvae in the field for they have never been found under natural 

 conditions. After it was found that they would feed and 

 thrive on moss a number were reared from egg to adult in 

 individual tin boxes. Instar records of some were kept but 

 because of the small number for which the data are complete 

 it is not possible to draw reliable conclusions. It is not easy 

 to get accurate instar records of this species because each larva 

 makes for itself a silken tube or retreat running through the 

 moss mass. To search out and examine the larvae daily to 

 determine their condition results in the death of most and the 

 abnormal development of the rest. Suffice it to say for the 

 present that larvae obtained from eggs laid May 17, developed 

 into moths, part of which emerged in the rearing boxes between 

 September 21 and 26. Others were apparently full grown 

 and some in the pupa stage when exposure to an unusually 

 severe frost on November 28, killed them all. The fact that 

 there was such a variation in the period of development in 

 this material showed that the results could only suggest and 

 not prove the usual progress of events. It is evident that it 

 is a very rare occurrence for moths of this species to appear 

 in the fall. In several years collecting we have not known 



