REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 209 



THE PALMETTO LEAF MINER. 



{Laverna sabalella Chambers [new species].) 

 Order Lepedopteea j family Tn^TEiDAB. 



Feeding in small companies upon the upper surface of the leaf of the saw-palmetto, 

 under a ailken covering, cylindrical white larvae with longitudinal brown stripes, 

 yellow heads, and yellow first segments. (PL II, fig. 1.) 



In tlie spring of 1879 specimens of a leaf miner on the leaves of the 

 saw-palmetto {Sabal serrulata) were scut to the department by Mr. 

 Schwarz, from Florida. During the summer the moth was sent to Mr. 

 Chambers for identification, but it proved to be a new species. He ac- 

 cordingly named it, and his characterization of the species is appended. 



During my entomological excurcion to Florida in January and Febru- 

 ary, 1880, I again met with the species, and collected many specimens 

 in all stages. Along the Transit Railroad, between Fernandina and 

 Baldwin, it was very common, and in other parts of the State it was oc- 

 casionally seen. In a few instances I found this species feeding upon 

 the leaves of the young cabbage palmetto {Sahal palmetto). 



The larva feeds ui)on the upper surface of the leaf, destroying the 

 upper skin and the fleshy part of the leaf, leaving the lower skin un- 

 touched. I have never found it feeding upon the under surface. The 

 larvae are social in their nature, working together in small companies, 

 several making a common nest. This nest consists simply of a delicate 

 sheet of silk, covering that part of the leaf upon which the larvae are 

 working. This silken sheet is covered externally with a layer of what 

 appears to the unaided eye like sawdust, but which is in reality a mass 

 of the excrementitious pellets of the larvae. The true nature of the 

 work is thus concealed, both the silken covering and the larvae them- 

 selves being hidden from view. The nest is always kept extended be- 

 yond the eaten portion, so that the larvae are under cover while eating. 

 Both the disk and the terminal portions of the leaf are infested. In 

 many cases the latter were fastened together lengthwise, as if they had 

 never been unfolded, or had been drawn together. From the line of. 

 union the excrement always projects. 



The average length of the full-grown larvae is about 14°"°. (.55 inch). 

 They are comparatively slender and subcylindrical in form. The ground 

 color is white tinged with yellow, the head and prothoracic shield being 

 a darker yellow and the mandibles brown. Extending longitudinally 

 from prothorax to anus are eight somewhat irregular, reddish-brown 

 stripes, at equal distances apart around the whole body. These stripes 

 grow more pronounced as the larva increases in age. The larvae are 

 active in their movements, and when removed from theu^ mines drop 

 readily by a thread. A strange peculiarity of the color of the brown 

 striiies is that upon the larva being placed in alcohol they change to a 

 brilliant pink or rose color. The same effect is also produced when they 

 are mounted in Canada balsam. 



The cbrvsalis is formed under the sUken covering. It is about 8™"* 

 (i^g- inch) in length and is rather slender. The abdomen is reddish and 

 the wing-covers yellowish brown. It is smooth and shining. The wing 

 sheaths extend to the eighth abdominal segment. 



The moth is quite large for a Tineid, the expanse of the wings being 

 15.5 ™™ (I inch.) Its general color is a delicate silvery gray, with a tinge 

 14 Aa 



