98 



The moth (Fig. 13, e) is of a grayish-buff or pale ochreous, with fuscous 

 markings on front wings. 



GEOGRAPHK^AL DISTRIBUTION. 



This species is probably one of the most generally distributed of the 

 genus. It is recorded by Herrich-Scbiiffer from Grlogau. Dresden, Swe- 

 den, and England. Stainton adds Scotland, Ireland, France, Finland, 

 and Canada. It is also now well seated in the Eastern United States. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



In Europe, the Cow Parsnip [Heracleum sphondylium), Cultivated 

 Parsnip {Pastinaca sativa), Siberian Parsnip {Heracleum sibiricicm); in 

 America, Pastinaca sativa and the Wild Carrot [Daucus carota) are 

 known to be subject to its attacks. 



ENEMIES. 



Kaltenbach (Pflanzenfeinde, p. 282) says that according to Boie, of 

 Kiel, its natural enemies are Cri/ptus Jiagifator Grv., Pimpla heraclei, aud 

 Roplismenus dimidiatus, which he found in the roots, together with the 

 pupa cases of the moth. Curtis (Farm Insects, p. 414) records Cryptus 

 {Phygadeuon) profligator Grv., and Opliion {PristomeriiH) vubierator Grv\ 

 as bred from the larvic by Bouche. He also records his own breeding, 

 from a single larva taken from the parsnip, of a female Microgaster 

 allied to lacteipennis, and about thirty females of Encyrtus truncatelliis, 

 which he believes were parasitic on the Microgaster. In this conclusion 

 he is doubtless in error, as Encyrtus truncatellus { = Gopidosoma trunca- 

 tellum Dalra.) is always, so far as known, a primary parasite of Lepi 

 dopterous larvae. It already inhabits this country, and may probably 

 turn up as a parasite of this particular Depressaria. 



No parasites were bred by Bethune in this country, nor by us. Among 

 the birds, however, Bethune states that the Hairy Woodpecker, {Picus 

 villosus) visited the parsnip-stalks in his garden daily, and pecked away 

 at the larvse and pupae within. 



REMEDIES. 



Bethune suggests as a remedy that, when the young caterpillars 

 appear on the Howers, the umbels may be dusted over with powdered 

 white hellebore, repeating the operation occasionally. We doubt the 

 eflicacy of this, and should have more faith in the arsenites, notwith- 

 standing Mr. Landreth's adverse experience. Should the flowers be 

 destroyed before they are noticed, cut oil' and burn all aflected stalks 

 before the moths emerge from the pupa;. The larvae are easily dis- 

 turbed, and may be dislodged from the umbels and collected in pans 

 and burned. 



