6 BULLETIN 914, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



There are. also three notes on specimens collected by Miss Mary E. 

 Murtfeldt, presumably at her home at Kirkwood, Mo., recording the 

 occurrence of the larva? on lobelia, smartweed, and asparagus. 



May 15, 1898, isolated individuals in the larval stage were observed 

 on the twisted-up leaves contiguous to immature buds of blackberry 

 at River View, Md., the buds having been eaten into in many cases 

 and prevented from blooming. During July larvae were observed in 

 considerable abundance at Marshall Hall, Md., also on blackberry 

 and on the webbed-up leaves of pigweed {Amaranthus retroflexus) . 

 Moths issued August 9 and 10. 



July 14 to 25, 1899, larvse were found at Alexandria, Va., by Mr. 

 T. A. Keleher, Bureau of Entomology, on cabbage, raspberry, and 

 cultivated honeysuckle. Moths began to issue July 31. September 



26 the larva was received with the information that the material had 

 been obtained from Mr. C. H. Stuart, Newark, X. Y., and that the 

 species was infesting popcorn. Mr. Stuart made the statement that 



27 per cent of the ears of popcorn were infested, and that 37 per cent 

 of the corn on each infested ear were destroyed by this caterpillar, 

 an unusual instance of injury. 



During the latter part of May and early June the moths of this 

 species were several times observed in the field, and June 13 the moths 

 were seen at rest upon cabbage and rhubarb. On the former plant 

 a deserted pupal skin was found on the under surface of the leaf 

 directly below the point where the moth had been resting, and the 

 midrib was found to have been eaten to the extent of 6 or 8 inches, 

 along both sides. Subsequently other cabbage plants were found 

 to have been similarly affected, and a pupa was found in one of 

 these from which the moth afterwards issued. 



October 5 larvse were observed on celery at Washington, D. C, and 

 later the same species was found at work on celery and still more 

 abundantly on asparagus at Brookland, D. C. Later it was observed 

 on parsley, strawberry, and raspberry at Cabin John, Md., and on 

 potted geranium at Washington. D. C. On celery and parsley 

 the larvse were apparently less abundant, as on these plants they 

 are more difficult to see without close scrutiny, since they web 

 up the leaves very neatly and in such a manner as not readily to 

 attract attention. On asparagus, however, the webs are quite notice- 

 able and could be seen at some little distance. In the formation of 

 their temporary homes, the larva? use an abundance of silk, often 

 distorting the asparagus stems by drawing them together. 



In every instance above mentioned the adults were reared from 

 the material obtained. 



In the manner of their attack the larva? of this species do not differ 

 markedly from those of the sulphur leaf-roller. In work upon corn 

 the young blades are either folded lengthwise so as to form a cylin- 

 drical case or simply rolled up as are all other plants when attacked. 



