32 



THE GARTERED PLUME-MOTH. 



Oxyptilus periscelidactylus (Fitch) . 



Fig. 26. 



The caterpillars of this species draw together the young grape 

 leaves, Fig. 26, a, in the spring, with fine silken threads, and feed 

 on the inside, thus doing much damage in proportion to their size. 

 These caterpillars, Fig. 26, a, and e, a segment greatly enlarged, are 

 full grown in about two weeks, when they are about one-fourth of an 

 inch long, pale green with whitish hairs arising from a transverse 

 row of warts on each segment. 



Early in June they transform to pupae. Fig. 26, &, which are pale 

 green at first and change to dark brown. The surface is rough and 

 the head is cut off obliquely, while on the upper side near the middle 

 are two sharp pointed horns, Fig. 26, c. They remain in this stage 

 from a week to ten days, when tlie moths emerge. 



The moths. Fig. 26, d, belong to the family commonly known as 

 plume-mulhs or feather-wings, (PTEROPHOPaDAE) , from having their 

 wings divided into feather-like lobes. When the wings are expanded 

 they measure about seven-tenths of an inch across. They are 

 yellowish brown with a metallic lustre, and have several dull whitish 

 streaks and spots. The fore wings are split down the middle about 

 half way to their base, the posterior half having a notch in the outer 

 margin. The body is somewhat darker than the wings. 



It is not known positively in what stage the winter is passed, but 

 it is supposed to be the perfect or imago stage. The unnatural 

 grouping and spinning of the leaves together leads to their detection, 

 and they can be easily destroyed by hand picking and then crushing 

 or burning them. 



