BULLETIN OF THE BROOKLYN ENT. 800. 57. 



Rearing of a Hybrid Moth. 



By Geo. D. Hulst. 



Om May 21st 1880, I had a Samia Cecropia $ mate with S. Cean- 

 othi 9- The female deposited eggs May 22nd which resembled ordinary 

 Ceanothi eggs, and from these, very hot weather intervening, the larvae 

 emerged May 31st. 



I gave the larvae the choice of 6 species food-plant, but they would 

 for 12 hours eat nothing I left them at night with wild cherry only, 

 which I found next morning they had begun to eat. The first moult was 

 passed June 6th, the second June 12th. the third June 17th, the fourth 

 June 24th. All their history through, they were intermediate in appear- 

 ance between the larvae of Cecropia and Ceanothi; a few however verging 

 in appearance toward the $, and a few towards the Q parent. The great 

 bulk however seemed to be as nearly intermediate as possible, and of 

 course were very easily distinguishable from either. As compared with 

 Cecropia, the sub-dorsal tubercles on the third and fourth segments were 

 light orange in color, and more slender. Those on the fifth segment 

 were much larger: also light orange. The rest of the sub-dorsal were 

 light lemon yellow. The lateral tubercles were linear, light blue at base, 

 shading off" to pale white at ends. Spiracles light blue, oval edged with 

 black. Body green, lighter above; more cylindrical than Cecropia. 

 When full grown the larvae measured from 3^ to 4 inches in length. 



They began making cocoon July 1st. The cocoons were interme- 

 diate between the two species; not so baggy so long, or so brown as in 

 Cecropia, and fuller, longer, and less silver-gray than Ceanothi. 



The cocoons were kept during the winter in an open, fireless garret. 

 The weather was exceedingly cold, and without doubt in the garret fell 

 to zero. 



The first imago appeared May 15th. The first 19 imagines were 

 males. Those emerging towards the last were all females. Eighteen co- 

 coons remain from which the imagines have not come but which seem to 

 containing living pupae. 



The imagines are intermediate between the two species and as a whole, 

 are remarkably constant in color. The bodies of the females are small, 

 and the wings have a filmy appearance as being very thinly scaled. 



