27 



green, l)o(ly-\vall quite transparent so that the numerous fat hodies 

 show thru and give a good deal of whitish appearance, especially 

 along the sides of the dorsal vessel; liead uniform pale greenish, 

 a roundish black spot in each lobe in front, two short oblique lines 

 near middle a little higher than these, none of the caterpillars 

 have the two oval spots on top of head which some had in two 

 previous stages ; ocelli dark brown ; cervical shield has a black 

 spot in each lateral lobe, a faint dot Ijehind each, two faint dots 

 near middle in front, lateral lobes not at all black-margined; a 

 black spot on lower anterior part of tubercle ii of segment 3 ; no 

 markings on the tul>ercles of the other segments. Altho this 

 moth is most similar to O. blackburni, its caterpillars are very 

 differently marked from those of the latter, tho both have similar 

 feeding habits — these being tlie only two species among those 

 whose caterpillars are known, which are especially gregarious tho 

 those of O. nionogramma are gregarious to some extent. The 

 head and tubercles of blackburni caterpillars have numerous black 

 markings, while in this species the caterpillars have very few 

 markings — perhaps fewer than any other species; in this they are 

 very similar to the caterpillars of accepta, tho somewhat larger. 



The pupa is about 14-17 mm. ; similar to the pupa of O. black- 

 burni, but a little smaller. 



The young caterpillars feed gregariously on the under surface 

 of a banana leaf along the side of the midril). They spin a slight 

 web for mutual protection, being covered by this and their excre- 

 ment which is caught and retained by the web. They eat the 

 lower epidermis and the parenchyma of the leaf, leaving the 

 upper epidermis, making it look like dead spots in the leaf where 

 they have fed. AMien about half -grown, they eat the whole sub- 

 stance of the leaf making a ragged appearance ; and they become 

 more separated and roll up the edge of the leaf for a " retreat. " 

 They molt five times at intervals of about three days, and alwut 

 7-10 days between the 5th molt and the time of pupation, wliich 

 gives about 22-25 days for the length of the caterpillar stage. 

 The pupa is formed inside a slight cocoon, made in the " retreat " 

 of the caterpillar, or some other convenient place for seclusion 

 and shelter. The pupal period is about 11 days. 



