REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 1808 167 
by others outside of Albany, is the girdling of elm twigs by the larvae 
of this insect. ‘This is caused by their eating a portion of the bark 
around the twig near the beginning of the season’s growth. The 
affected tips soon die, break off, and fall in numbers to the ground. The 
larvae drop from the trees readily, specially when young, suspending 
themselves by silken threads, and then may be blown or carried consid- 
erable distances. When nearly full grown, the caterpillars travel to a 
great extent, this is said to be specially true of the larger ones, females, 
and more likely to occur if they are very abundant. At such times there 
may be quite a migration to other trees. The cocoons are found very 
generally on the trunks and particularly on the under side of the larger 
branches. The wingless females, at the time they emerge from their 
cocoons, attract large numbers of the opposite sex. Dr Lintner records 
an instance of one attracting roo males within an hour. Collections at 
electric lights in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., by Dr Dyar, show that the males 
fly during July and into August. 
Food plants. Though this insect is commonly destructive to com- 
paratively few trees, it has been recorded as feeding on a number of 
plants, as the following list willshow: Linden, « geranium (/e/argonium), 
@grape, horsechestnut, buckeye, maples (specially the soft and Norway), 
box elder, honey locust, apricot, garden plum, wild plum (Prunus 
chicasa), garden cherry, choke cherry, rose, pear, apple, quince, ash, 
castor-oil plant, elm (several species), hackberry (Ce/#is), sycamore or 
buttonwood, butternut, black walnut, hickory, oak, birch, alder, willow, 
poplar, spruce, fir, larch and cypress. Though Dr Howard excludes 
conifers from the food plants of this insect, the species mentioned above 
are given on the authority of records by earlier writers. It is probable 
that farther observation would lead to a much greater extension of this 
list, and certain ones might have to be thrown out on account of the 
larvae eating them only under most exceptional circumstances. 
Distribution. This native species ‘ranges from Jacksonville, Fla., 
to Nova Scotia on the eastern coast and extends west certainly as far as 
Keokuk, Ia., and probably farther.’ (Howard?) It has been recorded 
as common in Nebraska by McMillan, and Prof. F. L. Washburn (see 
citation) reports the same from Oregon. 
Other forms of Notolophus. There are several other species in 
the country belonging to this genus, one of which, JV. definita Packard, 

“Not previously recorded to my knowledge. 
5 Year book. U.S. Dep't agriculture. 1895. p."368. 
