SB 
818 
C578 
ENT 
CIRCULAR No. 109. Issued July 6, 1909. 
United States Department of Agriculture, 
BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY, 
L. O. HOWARD, Entomologist and Chief of Bureau. 
THE LEOPARD MOTH. 
(Zeuzera pyrina Fab.)4@ 
By L. O. Howarp and F. H. Currrenven. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
Deciduous trees of many kinds, grown for shade and for ornament 
in northern New Jersey and eastern New York, are subject to severe 
injury by the larval stage of the European leopard moth (Zeuzera 
pyrina Fab.). Among the shade trees, elms and maples suffer the 
greatest damage, but as this species is a very general feeder it attacks 
practically all descriptions of trees and shrubs with the exception of the 
evergreens. In the region mentioned this species is, everything con- 
sidered, the most serious menace to the growth of shade trees, since, 
unlike the majority of lepidopterous insects, the larve of the leopard 
moth do not feed upon the foliage, but bore into the branches of the 
plants which they infest and feed upon the living wood. The larvee 
usually begin operations in twigs and small branches and with their 
larger growth bore and tunnel into the larger branches and trunks. 
This work has the effect of girdling, the injured portions being blown 
down by heavy wind storms, while in the case of severe attack the 
growth of the tree is checked, frequently causing its death. Attack is 
not confined solely to shade and ornamental plants, but orchards are 
often injured. 
DESCRIPTIVE. 
Injury by this species is accomplished solely by the larva, which is 
a fleshy, grublike caterpillar, pale yellowish in color, frequently with 
a pinkish tinge. The head, thorax, and anal plates are brownish- 
black and the surface of the body is very sparsely hairy but covered 
a@Family Cosside. Synonyms: Zeuzera xsculi L., Z. decipiens Kby., etc. 
87868—Cir. 109—09 Cc 
- 20135) 
