42 BULLETIN 322 



Synonymy of Coleophora laricella 



1827 Tinea laricella Hbn., Samm. Europ. Schmett., V, fig. 427. 



1834 Ornix argyropennella Treit., Schmetterl. Europa, X, part III, p. 221. 



1838 Gracillaria laricella Du., Histoire Naturelle des Lepidopteres, etc., XI, p. 586, 



pi. 311, fig. 3. 



1839 Coleophora laricella Zell., Isis, p. 208. 



1840 Tinea laricella Ratz., Forst-Insecten, part II, p. 244 



DISTRIBUTION AND FOOD PLANTS 



The larch case-bearer is a European insect and is rather widely dis- 

 tributed over Europe, being especially abundant and injurious in Germany. 

 It has been reported as injurious in Italy, France, Switzerland, and Fin- 

 land. It very probably exists in other countries on the Continent. It 

 is also widely distributed in Great Britain, probably having been intro- 

 duced on the European larch, the larch not being indigenous to the British 

 Isles. 



As has been stated, the case-bearer probably reached this country by 

 being introduced on the European larch. It is now certainly widely dis- 

 tributed in the northeastern United States New York and New England. 

 Doctor Felt records it as present on larches in the vicinity of Albany, 

 N. Y., and Doctor Fletcher recorded it in the vicinity of Ottawa, Canada, 

 in 1905. 



The food plants of the insect evidently consist of the European and 

 American larches. The latter tree is known in the United States as the 

 tamarack, or hackmatack, and sometimes, although erroneously, the 

 juniper. 



It is said that the Japanese larches are not attacked by this case-bearer. 

 Cecconi records it as attacking the Larix leptolepis in Italy. 



LIFE HISTORY 



The larch case-bearer has an interesting life history and most interesting 

 habits. It passes a very protected life, for while young it lives in burrows 

 within the larch leaves and later it fashions a case in which it ensconces 

 itself and which it never leaves as a larva. Undoubtedly this case serves 

 to protect the tiny larva from extreme weather conditions, if not from 

 insect enemies. 



Hibernation 



By a strange instinct the larva? migrate in the autumn from the 

 deciduous leaves of the larch upon which they have been feeding, and 

 securely fasten themselves in their tiny cases to the branches. Here 

 instinct tells them they will be safe from falling to the ground and will 

 be accessible to their food supply in the early spring. 



