210 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 
X. grotei are one and the same species.’ Differences in the time of 
flight have been observed by Prof. Hudson in the case of closely 
related species, as, for example, Lyfrefia virgo Linn. and Lypfrepia 
parthenice Kirby, their periods being well separated except for a few 
stragglers. The same he found true in the case of Felta herilis Grote 
and Feltia subgothica Haw., but not so with the species under dis- 
cussion. During several years of collecting, Prof. Hudson has taken 
these moths (X. antennata, X. laticinerea and X. grotet) from Sep. 25 
into early November, they being most abundant from the last of Septem- 
ber throughout October, and from March 2 to May 2, occurring in the 
spring in greatest numbers from about March 20 to April13. He also 
writes: ‘I have taken specimens at sugar while the grass and pools of 
shallow water were freezing at my feet. The moths probably kept in the 
warmer upper layers. I have taken them when the temperature 6 feet 
from the ground was but 3 degrees Centigrade but never below this. On 
one of these occasions, a very light snow was falling, yet I found a single 
specimen feeding at sugar at 6.30 p.m. ‘This was on April 2, 1889.’ 
Life history. Usually the larvae are not observed till May or June. 
They complete their growth by the middle of the latter month, enter the 
ground and pupate an inch or more below the surface. They remain in 
the quiescent stage till September, when most of them emerge. Though 
some hibernate as pupae, the majority pass the winter as adults. It has 
been stated that in the south, the eggs are deposited on the under sur- 
face of the leaves. No record of the oviposition in the north has been 
made. 
Food habits. Though comparatively little is known about the food 
habits of this species, it is probably a somewhat general feeder. Dr 
Riley records ‘attacks by the larvae of X. antennata on apples, peaches, 
oak galls, hickory leaves and those of other forest trees. Their feeding 
upon rose buds and maple foliage has already been mentioned. The 
extensive defoliation of the soft maples would indicate, however, that 
the species becomes abundant only when climatic and other conditions 
favor its rapid development upon some favorite food plant like the soft 
maple. In his bulletin, Prof. Slingerland adds peas, plums, currants and 
quinces to the list of fruits injured and states that one grower had to 
watch the buds on grafted pears to prevent their being destroyed. 
Farther observations may greatly extend the list of known food plants. 
Natural enemies. Two hymenoptera, Wesochorus agilis Cres. and 
Meteorus hvphantriae Riley, were reared from X. /aticinerea by Prof. Sling- 
erland. They would probably attack X. anvéennata with equal readiness. 
