1L2 



SECOND ANNUAL REPORT OP 



pink. Abdomen § gray, with a few pale hairs near the base, and scarcely extending beyond the 

 margin of the hind wings ; ^ longer, covered with pale silky hairs, a distinct dorsal brown tuft on 

 each of the three basal segments, and two large lateral either fawn-colored or golden-yellow 

 brushes on the fifth segment, meeting on the back and partly covering two smaller brushes on the 

 sixth, which are tipped with black: terminal segment flattened and with two lateral more dusky and 

 amaller tufts : underside of thorax and abdomen gray, mixed with flesh-color. Alar expanse 1.55 

 inches. Described from numerous bred specimens. In a suite of specimens bred from the same 

 brood of larvic a considerable difference in the general depth of color is found, some being fully as 

 dark again as others. 



Closely resembles Plusia ni, Engr., which occurs in Italy, Sicily, France, and the northern 

 parts of America. Mr. P. Zeller of Stettin, Prussia, to whom I sent specimens, considers it dis- 

 tinct however from the European ni, and I have consequently given it a name in accordance with 

 its habits. 



There is another worm which may be known as the Thistle Plusia, 

 and which occurs on our common thistles, and cannot therefore be 

 considered very injurious. It differs only from that of the Cabbage 

 Plusia in having the sides of the head, the thoracic legs, arow of spots 

 above the lateral light line, and a ring around the breathing pores, 

 black. I have bred from it the Plusia precationis* of Guenee — an 

 insect whose larval history has not hitherto been known. 



THE ZEBRA CATERPILLAR— Mamcslra picta, Harr. 



(Lepidoptera, Apamidrc.) 



This is another insect which often proves injurious to our cauli- 

 flowers and cabbages, though 

 it by no means confines itself 

 to these two vegetables. Ear- 

 ly in June the young worms 

 which are first almost black, 

 though they soon become pale 

 and green, may be found in 

 dense clusters on these plants, 

 for they are at that time gre- 

 garious. As they grow older 

 they disperse and are not so 

 easily found, and in about four 

 weeks from the time of hatch- 

 ing they come to their full 

 growth. Each worm (Fig. 82. 

 a,) then measures about two inches in length, and is velvety-black 

 with a red head, red legs, and with two lateral yellow lines, between 

 which are numerous transverse white, irregular, zebra-like finer lines, 

 which induced Dr. Melsheimer to call this worm the "Zebra." Though 

 it does not conceal itself, it invariably curls up cut-worm fashion, and 

 rolls to the ground when disturbed. 



It changes to chrysalis within a rude cocoon formed just under 

 the surface of the ground, by interweaving a few grains of sand or a 



* Some of these bred specimens approach very near to PI. iota, Gn. and even to PI. u-brevu, 



