946 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. © 
Monscesta to which it is now referred, the genus being more fully rep 
resented in Central and South America. The color is pale clay-yellow, 
with two dark, bluish spots on each wing-ccver. These spots are varia- 
ble in size, and sometimes entirely wanting. 
My attention was first called to the injuries of this larva some three 
years ago by Mr. Geo. W. Letterman, of Allentown, Mo., and I have 
since been able to trace the full natural history of the species as it is 
given below. 
- The parent beetles (Pl. IV, Fig. 1, jj) make their first appearance 
during the month of June, when they may usually be found pairing on 
the tree first mentioned. The eggs (Pl. IV, Fig. 1, a) are laid on the 
under side of the leaf in a compact, more or less globose, gamboge- 
yellow cluster, each egg surrounded and the whole mass firmly held to- 
gether by a glutinous substance. There are, on an average, about 125 
eggs in each mass, the eggs being laid in layers. In general appear- 
ance the mass bears a resemblance to a yellow raspberry. Each egg 
(Pl. IV, Fig. 1, b), when examined separately, is seen to be subspherical 
in form and highly polished. 
The young larve (PL IV, Fig. 1, c) hatch in about a week after the 
eggs are laid, and at first congregate around the empty egg-shells, 
which they nibble and feed upon. Fer about two days they remain 
close to their birthplace, eating only the parenchyma of the leaf, and 
showing so little inclination to travel that, should the leaf by acci- 
dent be detached, they perish rather than search for another. They 
have at this stage of growth the curions habit, when disturbed, of 
raising the abdomen to a nearly perpindicular position, holding on te 
the leaf very firmly with their jaws. They are at this time of a glossy 
yellow color, and generally shed the first skin two days after birth, the 
empty skin adhering tightly to the leaf. 
In the second stage, the color of the worms becomes more brownish, and 
they are more active, but still remain clustered together upon a single leaf 
or branch, scattering but slightly in proportion as they skeletonize one leaf 
after another. They yet, for the most part, feed upon the under side 
of the leaf, not touching the upper skin, and giving to the leaves a 
brownish, speckled, and seared appearance, as if covered by patches of 
some brown fungus. The excrement is voided in long, bead-like strings, 
which cover the ground or hang down from the branches and leaves of 
the infested trees. In another week, or when the larve are about half 
grown, a second molt takes place, they preparing for it in the usual 
manner by firmly attaching the anal joints to the leaf. (Pl. IV, Fig. 1, ¢.) 
In the beginning of the third stage they feed indiscriminately on either 
side of the leat, but still refuse to touch the epidermis of the oppo- 
site side. The gnawings on the upper side at this stage of growth are 
peculiar, being in the form of crescent lines with narrow strips of epi- 
dermis between them; whereas on the under side there is no such regu- 
larity, and all is eaten but the stronger cross veins. Ihave been unable 
to trace any further molts. This third stage lasts from two to three 
weeks, the larvee scattering more thoroughly and the general color be- 
coming quite brown or yellowish-brown. As the worms reach fall 
growth (Pl. IV, Fig. 1, ddd) the fleshy part of the leaves is entirely 
eaten so that little remains but the principal ribs, and the leaves thus 
present a very ragged appearance. 
Toward the end of July and early in August the worms cease feeding 
and descend into the ground, burrowing therein and forming a simple 
oval cavity 2 few inches below the surface, They lie dormant therein 
Tb 
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