4 BULLETIN 226, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



THE EGG. 



The egg and newly hatched larva have not heretofore been de- 

 scribed. The author's description of the egg follows: 



The egg. — The egg is oval with the outline somewhat irregular; long diameter, 0.45 

 mm., shorter diameter, 0.30. It appears flat below, with the upper surface hemi- 

 spherical, pitted and also granulated. In color it is usually whitish or light cream and 

 readily distinguishable, particularly when deposited on green sepals. Later the eggs 

 invariably turn slightly reddish, some before hatching taking on a grayish hue. 



FlG.l. 



-The verbena bud moth: 1 , Larva, ventral view; S. larva, lateral view, 

 greatly enlarged. (Original.) 



The eggs are deposited singly or sometimes in groups of from three 

 to five on sepals of flower buds, or along the upper part of the tender 

 flower stalk, and hatch in from 7 to 10 days. (PI. I, c, d.) 



HABITS AND SEASONAL HISTORY. 



In the vicinity of Norfolk, Va., and on the grounds of the Virginia 

 Truck Experiment Station the adults of the verbena bud moth, in 

 1913, began to issue on or about the last week in March. These were 



