OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 165 



green than those of the other species. The sides of the abdomen are 

 glaucous-green, vaiegated with purplish rellections, and on the ven- 

 tral surface the posterior edges of the joints are defined by lilaceous 

 bands. The hind legs are remarkably long. The antennae are of a 

 reddish color for about half their length from the base. 



This species hatches somewhat later and develops more slowly 

 than the preceding, and in its adolescent stages is easily recognized 

 by its more slender form, longer legs, and more gayly-colored appear- 

 ance — the body being checkered with purplish, black, red-brown and 

 white, the antennte black with five white annuli, and the hind thighs 

 having, more especially, two broad, dark annulations. By the time 

 retinervis begins to sound its taboret, curvicauda is generally in the 

 pupa state, while it seldom acquires wings till the fore part of August. 

 The eggs are deposited singly in the edges of leaves, between the up- 

 per and under cuticles. The method of oviposition is thus described for 

 me by Miss Murtfeldt, who has watched the operation : " The febiale 

 stations herself firmly, by the middle and hind legs, on twigs or leaves 

 contiguous to the one selected to receive the egg. This leaf is then 

 grasped by the front feet and held in a vertical position, while the 

 edge is slightly gnawed or pared off by the jaws to facilitate the en- 

 trance of the point of the ovipositor. When this is done the abdomen is 

 curved under and brought forward, and the ovipositor is seized on its 

 convex edge by the mandibles and maxillae, which, with the aid of the 

 palpi, guide the point to that portion of the leaf prepared to receive 

 it. After gentle, but repeated, eflForts, the point of the instrument is 

 finally inserted between the tissues of the leaf, and gradually pushed 

 in, to more than half its length. As soon as the cavity is formed, the 

 egg is extruded, and passed slowly between the semi-transparent 

 blades of the ovipositor. As the egg leaves the ovipositor, the latter 

 is gradually withdrawn, while the egg remains in the leaf, retained in 

 its place, probably, by a viscid fluid that is exuded with it. The in- 

 sect occasionally deposits two or three eggs in succession, but, as a 

 rule, after one is placed she releases the leaf and betakes herself to 

 eating, or to biting her feet, or dressing her antenut^, and does not 

 resume her maternal duties for some time." 



I have had as many as five of these eggs deposited in a single 

 leaf, in one contiguous row, but they are more often single. The egg is 

 so very flat as scarcely to cause a noticeable swelling in the leaf; in- 

 deed, its position can only be determined by holding the latter against 

 the light. It is somewhat narrower, in its broader outline, than that 

 of retinervis^ and slightly curved, but otherwise resembles the latter. 

 Before hatching, it swells so as to become nearly cylindrical in form, 

 raising the skin of the dry leaf into blisters. 



