Vol. xxiii] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 405 



and while in the third stage a peculiar gland-like structure 

 was noticed on the first and seventh abdominal segments, just 

 caudo-ventrad of the spiracle ; it presents the appearance of a 

 puckered, fleshy wart, undifferentiated in color from the brown 

 of the spiracular stripe ; when the larva is disturbed the organ 

 is slightly but quickly inverted or projected. It is probably 

 odoriferous. The third ecdysis occurred on August 22 ; after 

 this molt it was noticed that the spines of the tubercular setae 

 of the larvae at first cling together parallel to the axis of each 

 seta and overlapping; they are then short and stout, with a 

 very short tip, giving the larva, viewed as a whole, a very 

 peculiar appearance. They then have a dull opaque green 

 color, becoming gradually transparent as the fluid enters them ; 

 this also straightens the bent tips ; this process can be watched 

 and occurs rapidly. The fourth molt occurred on August 30. 

 The cocoons had been formed by September 29. 



These caterpillars are often reputed to be dangerously poi- 

 sonous. On September 2, 1902, I passed the back of my hand 

 roughly over the back of one of the large larvae, whereupon 

 a number of the spines penetrated and broke off, causing a 

 sharp pain ; subsequently much irritation and redness appeared, 

 followed after several minutes by raised white blotches not 

 unlike those caused by stinging jellyfish. These disappeared 

 after about twenty minutes, leaving a blotched redness of the 

 skin which persisted for twenty- four hours; toward the end 

 the raised blotches accompanied by irritation reappeared, grad- 

 ually disappearing in the following twenty-four hours. 



When at rest, in the second stage, the young larvae attach 

 small, tough strands of silk to the leaf. The eggs have been 

 noticed on garden beans. 

 7. Notes on Laphygma frugiperda Smith and Abbot (Lepid.), 



A larva of this species which had been fed in the laboratory 

 and which was taken on corn at Paris, Texas, April 26, 1904, 

 having been fed on cross-sections of the stalks of young corn 

 plants, attained full growth about April 30 and at ten o'clock 

 of the morning of that day commenced to enter some earth 

 prepared for it. By the afternoon it was several centimeters 



