10 



THE GKEATEK LEAF-KOLLEK. 



{Laxotaenia rosaceana.) Harris. 



(Order Lepidopteba. Family Toetricid^.) 



[Living in a rolled or folded leaf on apple and cherry, and also 

 on various other trees and plants;' a naked caterpillar of a greenish 

 color, with a brown or blackish head.] 



Almost every person has noticed on various plants certain leaves 

 that were rolled up, or folded over and fastened together with silken 

 threads. Sometimes one of the edges of a leaf is folded over and 

 fastened to the upper surface of the leaf; at other times the oppo- 

 site edges of a leaf are drawn together and fastened with silken 

 threads. Sometimes the leaf is rolled up like a map, usually length- 

 wise with the midrib, but occasionally it is rolled up from the apex 

 of the leaf toward the base. When the leaves are small the edges 

 of one leaf are usually fastened to those of another, and sometimes 

 three or more leaves are fastened together in this manner. 



This is sometimes the work of a spider, which in this way con- 

 structs a den or a place of concealment for its eggs ; but it is usu- 

 ally the work of a small naked caterpillar which generally belongs 

 to the family Tortricidce, but a few belong to the Tineidce, and a still 

 smaller number to the Pyralidce. On account of the habit they have 

 of rolling up leaves for a habitation, they have received the name 

 of Leaf-rollers. After reaching their full size, they close each end 

 of the roll, and soon afterward assume the chrysalis form. A short 

 time before the moth emerges, the Chrysalis works itself about one- 

 half its length out of its case, and while in this position the moth 

 makes its escape. 



One of the largest and most widely distributed species is the one 

 whose name heads this article. There are two broods of these Leaf- 

 rollers produced in one season. The first brood makes it appear- 

 ance about the middle of May, or a week or so after the apple trees 

 have put forth their leaves, and reach their full size in the month 

 of June. Those found on apple and cherry trees, when about to 

 pupate, usually construct a sort of leafen case by fastening the 

 edges of two or three leaves together and lining the interior with a 

 layer of silk. Shortly after this they are changed to chrysalides, 

 and, in from five to sixteen days later — usually about nine — the 

 moths appear. The latter, in the course of a few weeks, deposit 



