40 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 95 



Howevei, on Apple Orchard Mountain in Bedford County, Va., 

 we have found the caterpillars of Epargyreus tityriis frequently on 

 the small-leaved hog-peanut (Falcata comosa), and they have been 

 reported by others as found on the same plant. 



POSSIBLE CORRELATION BETWEEN THE TYPE OF SHELTER 

 AND THE TEXTURE OF THE LEAVES 



It is possible that the very delicate texture of the hog-peanut leaflets, 

 rather than any inherent peculiarity of the young caterpillars of the 

 gold-banded skipper, is responsible for the construction of the peaked 

 shelters. Some insect larvae show great ingenuity in adapting them- 

 selves to changed conditions. 



The leaflets of the hog-peanut are less firm than are those of the 

 species of Meibomia, Rohinia, etc., upon which the caterpillars of 

 Epargyreus tityrus and of Achalarus lyciades usually are found. In- 

 deed, they are so delicate that unless the little shelters were braced in 

 some way they would scarcely support the weight of a caterpillar 

 clinging to the roof. 



If the peaked shelters are simply due to the delicate texture of the 

 hog-peanut leaflets, then the caterpillars of Rliabdoides ccllus when 

 on plants with firmer leaves would construct shelters of the same type 

 as those of Epargyreus tityrus and of Achalarus lyciades, and these 

 species on the hog-peanut would make their shelters after the fashion 

 of those of Rhabdoides cellus. 



On examining our series of second stage caterpillars after preserva- 

 tion in alcohol, two or three caterpillars of Epargyreus tityrus were 

 found among them. Now if these had been in the type of shelter 

 usually made by this species this would certainly have been noticed in 

 the field. But they were not recognized until after preservation. The 

 inference is that they were found on the hog-peanut living in peaked 

 shelters of the type formed by the caterpillars of Rliabdoides cellus. 

 But actual proof is lacking. 



Elsewhere we have found the young caterpillars of Epargyreus 

 tityrus on the small-leaved hog-peanut, always in its usual type of 

 shelter. The leaflets of this plant, however, are of a firmer texture 

 than the large leaflets of F. pitcheri. 



COCOON 



The fact that we have found a large number of abandoned shelters 

 made by fully grown caterpillars, but have never found a pupa in a 

 shelter, leads us to believe that the caterpillars leave the shelters and 

 pupate among the dead leaves on the ground. 



