57^ 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



riorly and of a bright brown color. Each of the abdominal segments is 

 provided with two transverse rows of teeth, the posterior ridge composed 

 of minute, close-set, rasplike points, while those composing the anterior 

 ridge are longer and more scattered. 



In disclosing the moth the chrysalis protrudes itself from its case for 

 nearly its entire length, holding itself in position by the anal hooks. 



Imago. Alar expanse from .5 to .55. Length .22. Head and palpi 

 densely tufted, brown with a slight purplish reflection, eyes grayish blue, 

 antennae short. Thorax with a brown dorsal tuft and dark blue patagia. 

 Abdomen fuscous shading to brown above with a silky lustre ; front and 

 middle legs fuscous inclining to cinerous, hind legs silvery cinerous, tarsi 

 annulated with pale buff. Front wings dark chocolate-brown and metallic 

 blue ; the latter color predominates in the basal third, but is interrupted 

 about midway by an irregular fascia and some scattered flecks of brown ; 

 middle portion of the wing mainly brown, but penetrated from both 

 apical and basal sides with streaks and points of blue ; on the outer 

 third the blue and brown colors are thoroughly intermixed in a somewhat 

 intricate pattern, the apex being brown variegated with four or five irregular, 

 blue spots, while the inner angle is occupied by a large oblong blue spot 

 divided by an oblique, narrow, brown stripe. The costa presents in a strong 

 light a succession of broad and narrow blue streaks on a purplish brown 

 ground and on the outer edge is a narrow border of the latter color, while 

 the fringe is of a more or less intense blue. Hind wings fuscous, shading to 

 cinerous at base, with a silky lustre, fringe cinerous. Under surface of both 

 front and hind wings fuscous, the former a shade darker than the latter and 

 displaying a faint irridescence. No se.xual differences except the smaller 

 size, the relatively narrower abdomen, and conspicuous anal tuft of the male. 

 Murtfcldt 



Life history. A considerable proportion of rose leaves will be found in 

 early spring, with their tips blackened and tightly webbed together with 

 glistening white silk. An examination may reveal a minute larva eating 

 into the heart of the growing point, not only blackening and distorting the 

 young leaves, but in many instances destroying the incipient flower bud. 

 This species is occasionally so abundant in Missouri that fully 20;^ of the 

 buds, particularly white or light colored varieties, are destroyed. There are 

 at least three successive broods in a season, the later ones attacking plants 

 in full leaf. The full grown larva deserts the mass of webbed leaves and 

 constructs for its protection a neat case by slitting the blade of a leaf on 



