CLEAR-WINGED MOTHS. 61 
though not possessing an organ to execute the threat. This 
currant-borer does not possess a tapering body and its pos- 
terior end is ornamented with a fan-like covering of scales. 
The wings have black markings with purplish reflections; 
the body is ringed with yellow, the thorax is also orna- 
mented with yellow lines. The female, though resembling 
the male very closely, is not so active; she has other and 
more serious business on hand than dancing, since she has 
to deposit her numerous and rapidly developing eggs. For 
this purpose she selects canes at least one year old. The 
beautiful egg, possessing the usual form of eggs of lepidopt- 
erous borers, is fastened most frequently in the angle made 
by the leaf and the cane. Other eggs are laid below the 
loose scales found upon the canes and in the cracks of bark. 
These eggs soon hatch, and the young caterpillar or borer 
eats its way into the interior of the cane, penetrating to its 
very pith. Here, apparently well protected against all 
enemies, the caterpillar has a congenial home surrounded 
with plenty of food, and soona long tunnel, sometimes 
several feet in length, shows that the appetite of this recluse 
does not suffer by its isolation. We never find more than 
one caterpillar in each burrow, showing that the females 
have been very careful in exploring the cane before entrust- 
ing it with anegg. Thecaterpillars grow but slowly, and 
at the approach of winter are not much more than half 
grown. They now prepare for the cold season by retiring 
as deeply in their tunnels as these will permit, and surround- 
ed by frass and chewed up fibres of the pith and wood, they 
are well protected. 
The larva possesses the usual form of caterpillars of this 
family of moths. It is ofa yellowish color, with a brown 
head, as shown in the illustration which also shows the 
piliferous spots and hairs. 
When the warmth of the sun in spring starts vegetation, 
and soon after the flowers of the currants open, the hiber- 
nating larva also feels imbued with new life and energy, and 
