INTRODUCTION. 



TIr" cane leaf-roller and all the other moths of the genus 

 Omiodes herein mentioned, are native to the Hawaiian Islands 

 and occur nowhere else. It is a tropical and sul)tropical genus, 

 other species occurring in South America, Central America, ^¥est 

 Indies, Tonga Is., Fiji, Solomon Is., Malay Is., Upper Burmah, 

 and even to E. Sil)eria, the latter 1)eing the farthest nortli that 

 any species occurs. There are 15 Hawaiian species, and about 

 an equal number in tlie other localities mentioned. 



Hampson^ places Omiodes under Phryganodes as a synonym; 

 l)ut our species do not agree with his characterization of that 

 genus in respect to palpi and vein 7 of forewing. Our species 

 more nearly correspond with his characterization of tlie genus 

 Nacoleia, another tropical and subtropical genus. 



Tlie only species of Hawaiian Omiodes whose caterpillars have 

 ])ecn jHwiously descril)ed are O. accepta' and O. blackbiirni^ . 

 The caterpillai'S of all species are very similar in general, l)ut varj' 

 in size respective to the size of the species, and in markings on 

 head, cervical shield, and the tubercles, as is well shown in the 

 figures. The pupae of the different species vary little except in 

 size and degree of coloration — some being lighter in color, others 

 darker. They all have similar habits of feeding, and of rolling 

 leaves or otherwise fastening leaves together for a "retreat," to 

 protect them from their enemies. The life-history of the different 

 species varies somewhat, l)ut in general is much the same as given 

 for O. accepta and O. blackburni. The caterpillars obtain their 

 growth in about 3 to 4 weeks, and the pupal period is about 1 to 2 

 weeks, which gives 4 to 6 weeks from egg to maturity. As they 

 breed more or less the year round, tliere is time enough for 

 several broods per year — about 6 to 8, tho there are seasons when 

 they l)reed less prolifically and grow less rapidly than at others; 

 so that perhaps there may be really a less number of broods per 

 year. 



' Hampson, the Fauna of British India, Moths, IV, p. 300, 1896. 

 '' Dyar, Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., VI, No. 2, p. 65, 1904. 

 ■•' Dyar, Can. Ent., XXXII, p. 157, 1900. 



