BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN EXT. 80C. 99. 



Remarks on Smerinthus Myops, 



By Geo. D. Hulst. 



We had last year, what as compared with our past experience 

 has been a very rapid development of this insect. 



The eggs were laid May 24th: the larvae emerged May 30th; 1st 

 moult was June 1st; 2nd moult, June 6th; 3rd moult, June nth; 4th 

 moult, June 16: Larvae left food plant June 24th. Imago emerged July 

 8th. Thus the whole history of the insect was gone through in about 6 

 weeks. The great heat of the season probably was the cause of the rapid 

 development. 



Last year we had imagines emerge from the second brood of Myops. 

 And as the wild Cherry the food plant, retains its leaves very late in the 

 Autumn we could from these easily have raised a third brood. Indeed we 

 have found larvae in the open field in October after heavy frosts. Early 

 in the season and during the summer, the larvae after the earlier moults 

 retire well down towards the base of the branches on which they feed; but 

 late in the fall feed openly towards the end of the branches. If we were 

 scientific, we would explain this as follows; in the summer, enemies in 

 the shape of ichneumons are plentiful and always on the alert; in the Au- 

 tumn, these have so to speak, "'retired from business"' for the year. Dur- 

 ing the prevalence of the parasites the larvae seek the cover of the inner bush 

 to avoid their enemies, and appear fearlessly when their enemies are gone. 

 But, not being scientific, (i. e. not being under the bondage of the dogmas 

 of Darwinism, or staitened by the requirements of the theory of evolution, 

 and not being compelled therefore forcibly or otherwise to explain %11 

 things on the principle of the "survival of the fittest,'") we think the expla- 

 nation is only that the shade is more comfortable in summer to the larvae, 

 as the sunshine is in frosty weather in Autumn. And like some of us of 

 the genus Homo, (now in our Caterpillar stage of existence), they choose 

 to be as comfortable as they can. 



INFESTED TWICS. 



When a branch or a twig Of a tree now gets its foliage and the 

 leaves dry up and shrink in a few weeks, it is a proof that it is infested by 

 larvae. Cutting off such branches and placing them in a box or in an 

 empty well closed room, rare insects may thus be procured; when there 

 is but one window, on the inside lined with wire-screen, the insects may 

 be taken there easilv. Carl Fuchs. 



