2 BULLETIN 111, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



dently familiar with the hornet, refused to believe that a specimen 

 which had just emerged and was being observed on the tree in which 

 it had attained maturity was not a "stinger" until the difference was 

 pointed out to him. 



The female is about two-thirds of an inch in length and the male is 

 somewhat smaller. In the female the last three segments, and in the 

 male the last four, are bordered with rich lemon-yellow, which makes 

 the sexes easily distinguishable, even to the uninitiated. 



The mature larva is from three-fourths inch (male) to \\ inches 

 (female) long and is of a dirty white or yellowish color. 



Fig. 1. — Female pitch moth ( Vespamima sequoia) 15 minutes after 

 emerging. (Original.) 



LIFE HISTORY. 



Observations on this species in different localities, together with 

 the dates of emergence of adults reared in the laboratory, show that 

 the general flight of the mature insects and oviposition occur between 

 June 25 and July 15, the greater number of them probably flying 

 about July 10. However, variation in latitude and altitude and un- 

 usual weather conditions prevailing during the spring of certain years 

 may put the date of this general emergence a few days ahead or 



