Notes on Coleophora, with Descriptions of Tivo New Species 165 



The larva feeds during September and the early part of Oc- 

 tober upon the interior of the almost ripe seeds of Polygonum 

 pnuctatum Ell., a common smartweed. The larval case is at- 

 tached near the apex of the triangular seed, which at this time is 

 closely enclosed in the calyx. The larva perforates the calyx and 

 the outer shining black covering of the seed, mining down into 

 the seed and consuming it in large part before migrating to another. 

 The case is cylindrical, a little bent down at the mouth and 

 gradually tapering to a sharp point at the apex. Three ridges 

 arise about one-third from the apex, defined rather by the flatten- 

 ing of the case between them than by any elevation of the ridges 

 above the general surface ; these run together and are lost at the 

 sharp apex of the case. The case itself is spun of pale straw- 

 colored silk, decorated w^ith four or five narrow strips of variable 

 width cut longitudinally from the thin brownish green sheath which 

 clasps the stem opposite the base of the leaf peticle. These strips 

 are attached in a circle just behind the mouth, separated from one 

 another by a narrow space, and extend backwards about four-fifths 

 of the length of the case. They are so closely incorporated with 

 the silken case itself as almost to escape observation, except for 

 the slight differences in color and texture. Seven or eight dis- 

 tinct lines of frass beginning at the point of attachment of these 

 strips run backwards parallel to one another for not over one- 

 fourth the length of the case. Length of case : 10-11 mm. 



The cases are very common in spring attached to tree trunks 

 near patches of the food plant. At this time the cases are dull 

 grayish, almost uniformly colored, and the sharp pointed apex is 

 often bent over or broken off. ' / 



Imagoes appear from the middle to the end of summer ; one 

 bred specimen in my collection emerged August 1st, another Au- 

 gust 25th, and I have a captured specimen taken September 13th. 

 The expanse of all of my specimens is greater than that given 

 by Chambers, viz., 7-16 inch. The smallest measures 13.5 mm., 

 the largest 15 mm. Chambers" description, however, agrees so 

 minutely with the paler specimens of my series that I have no 

 hesitation in referring all to this species. In the darker specimens, 



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