{July 1882. BULLETIN BROOKLYN ENTOM. SOC. VOL. V. 17 
SESIA SYRINGAE, arr. 
Bee By Gro. D. Hurst. 
The female lays her eggs in patches on roughened or knotty places 
on the bark of the food plants, which are the common Lilacand the Eng- 
lish Ash. ‘The eggs hatch in about 6 days, and the newly born larva at 
once eats its way through the bark into the solid wood. It runs its chan- 
nels in-all directions through the wood, the first one almost always follow- 
ing the pith. The eggs are laid upon, aud the larva infest branches 
generally from 1 to 3 inches in diameter, though I have found them in 
the main trunk of an Ash 7 inches in diameter, The larva develops 
through the summer and fall, and at the beginning of the winter is nearly 
or quite full grown. ‘The larva is very variable in length. ‘The head is 
corneous, of a bright mahogany color becoming very dark at mandibles, 
and is sprinkled with scattered hairs. The mandibles are stout, broad, 
- with five teeth. Body light, yellow anteriorly, with first segment semi- 
corneous above, and more reddish; posteriorly, pale white. Segments, 
distinctly marked, somewhat flattened; prolegs strong, yellowish, black 
at points. Abdominal legs distinct. 
The larva pupates in a slight cocoon after cutting its way to the bark, 
of which it leaves only the thin outer skin, ‘The pupation takes place in 
May. ‘The imago emerges in about three weeks. In the very early 
spring of 1881 all were out by June 5th. ‘This year, which is very back- 
ward, they are yet emerging, (June 27th). 
There is very considerabie variation in the imagines, both in size and 
color. In size they vary from five-sixths to one and one-third inches, 
the females being on the average the larger. In color there is a variation 
from deep orange to bright yellow on body, wings and legs. Some also 
have heavy lateral marks on the body, making it almost banded. 
The moths emerge early in the morning. The females very strongly 
attract the males. They mate soon after exit, and those that I have seen 
remained in coitu all day. 
In this section, they are very destructive to both Lilac and English 
Ash. Large shrubs of Lilacs are now very rarely seen and the English 
Ash is being rapidly exterminated. In the latter I have seen the wood 
completely riddled with the holes made by the larvee, and the tree entire- 
ly dead. pee) 
My thanks are gratefully given to Mr. John B. Smith of our Society, 
‘for his drawings, which accompanying this, illustrate the history and an- 
atomy of this insect. 
