240 



We have accumulated iu the note-books of the Division a number of 

 references to this insect, having first collected the larvae ou Cornus 

 paniculata in Missouri in the fall of 1875. Since that tinie we have col- 

 lected and received through our correspondents larvjie from various 

 localities, and have succeeded on several occasions in rearing the adult 

 insects. We had purposed to publish the natural history of this insect 

 as soon as opportunity offered, but such publication is now rendered 

 unnecessary in view of the excellent account of its habits and descrip- 

 tion of its several stages given 

 by Mr. Jack. We will, however, 

 in connection with a brief synop- 

 sis of Mr. Jack's paper, put on re- 

 cord our notes relating to the 

 range, date of appearance, and 

 habits of this insect. 



As stated above, the larva? were 

 collected in Missouri iu the fall 

 of 1875 on Cornus paniculata. 

 These specimens soon entered 

 soil and were found unchanged, 

 excepting being much contracted, 

 on March 23 of the spring follow- 

 ing. No adults were obtained. 

 September 27, 1877, larvae were 

 found on Cornus sp. at Kirk wood. 

 Mo., and these entered soil Octo- 

 ber 5, but again the adults failed 

 to appear. October 2, 1884, a 

 number of larvae of this insect 

 were received from Mr. M. S. 

 Crane, of Caldwell, N. J., who 

 seems to have first discovered the 

 peculiar hibernating habits of the 

 larvae, and who writes of them as follows : 



I seud you with this a box of saw-liy larvis found feeding on Cornus paniculata. 

 When about to change to a chrysalis the larvae bore into decayed wood to transform. 

 There are two broods iu a season, and the last one remains iu the wood until spring. 

 For several years they have been very abundant, but this season they were much 

 scarcer. 



October 3 a number of the larvae received from Mr. Crane bored into 

 rotten wood placed in the breeding-case with them for that purpose- 

 Flies issued from May 27 to June 5 of the year following. Another lot 

 of larvae was received from Mr. Crane September 2, 1885, concerning 

 which he again writes: 



I send you herewith a box of saw-fly larvae found feeding on panicled dogwood 

 (C. patiiculata), a few of which I forwarded to you last year, and have not been able- 



Fig. 49. — Earpiphorus varianus: a, larvae before 

 last molt; b, larva after last molt; c, larvse in 

 burrows in decaying wood — natural aize (after 

 Jack). 



