62 N.S. ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



THE WHITE MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH. 



He merocampa leucostigma Smith & Abbot. ) 



H. G. Payne. 



THE FOLLOWING is the result of careful observations taken daily of twenty 

 five specimens from the time of hatching until the death of the adults. 



LIFE HISTORY. 



The life history was similar to that of the species previously discussed, with the ex- 

 ception that the eggs hatched a week to ten days later and the larvae were correspond- 

 ingly late in spinning up. The dormant period in the pupal stage was a few days longer, 

 thus bringing the adults out a good two weeks after the rusty tussock adults had emerg- 

 ed. The habits of the adults in copulation and oviposition were similar. 



THE EGG. 



The eggs are not laid in a flat mass like those oiNololophusantigua but piled oh top 

 of each other in an irregular cluster, covered with a frothy white substance. They are 

 deposited upon the old cocoon from which the female moth has emerged and their num- 

 ber averages from three to five hundred in a single mass. The egg is .86mm.-. 92mm. 

 in diameter, more or less spherical, flattened on top and depressed in centre. Cap light- 

 ly punctured, the punctures being finer and closer towards the centre. Remaining sur- 

 face of egg smooth. Color when first deposited whitish yellow turning to whitish gray 

 later. The shell of the egg is quite thick and brittle. 



The habits of the larvae in emerging, feeding and moulting were practical identical 

 with those of the rusty tussock larvae, even to spinning down on a thread and curling 

 up in a ball when touched or disturbed. 



DESCRIPTION OF INSTARS. 



First In star. — Length of larvae when first hatched 1.7 mm. -2. Omm. Head .468 

 mm.-. 5mm. in width, shiny black in color. Prothoracic shield dull black. Two large 

 lateral tubercles occur on the first thoracic segment, yellowish in color, bearing long and 

 short whitish hairs, projecting in a tuft cephalo-laterad. The general body color is 

 white to light yellow. Dorsum darker than venter. Body very hairy, the hairs growing 

 in tufts. No distinct body marking present. 



Duration of first instar thirteen to fourteen days. 



Second Instar. — Length 4.5 mm.-5.0 mm. Head .762 mm. -.787mm. in width, 

 color shiry black. Prothoracic shield black. First thoracic segment with two large 

 tubercles bearing long hairs projecting as in first instar. The first, second and third 

 thoracic segments are white dorcally with a fine median black line. The first, second 

 third and fourth abdominal segments have a white median line dorsally. "]■ The fifth, 

 sixth and seventh abdominal segments have a black median line which merges into the 

 eighth with a white line on either side. There is a light orange colored spot or tubercle 

 in centre of dorsum on the sixth and seventh abdominal segments. A large tubercle oc- 

 curs dorsally in the centre of the eighth abdominal segment bearing a tuft of black hairs 

 similar to those situated laterally on the first thoracic segment. On the lateral surfaces 

 there is a longitudinal gray stripe. The ventral surface is whitish to light yellow. All 

 legs are concolorous with the ventral surface. 



Duration of second instar, six to seven days. 



