14 BULLETIN 250, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



Spice-bush (Benzoin aestivale [L.] Nees). 



No field observations have been made on tbis rather common shrub. 

 In the trays the larvae in all stages seemed to dislike the food and there was 

 little or no growth. Death resulted in a short time from starvation and disease. 



Balsam Fie (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.). 



Mr. Gooch has had this species under observation. On July 14, 1914, he 

 found in a mixed growth which was nearly defoliated heavy feeding on this 

 species by fifth and sixth stage larvae. A few small trees were 75 per cent 

 defoliated. No feeding was observed by earlier stages. 



In the trays little feeding took place before the third stage, and then the 

 larvae began to die rapidly and no adults were reared. This is an unfavored 

 species. > 



Sweet Gale (Myrica gale L.). 



Foliage from this species used in two trays with newly hatched larvae 

 produced adult moths. This shows it to be a favored food plant, as the larvae 

 fed freely in all stages. 



Mr. P. S. Coffin found fourth and fifth stage larvae feeding freely on sweet 

 gale in Candia, N. H. None of the other stages have been observed feeding 

 upon it in the field. 



Grape (Vitis labrusca L.). 



Tray experiments with the foliage of wild grape with each stage of the larva 

 shows that the latter will die before reaching the next stage. There was very 

 little feeding, which consisted of small notches being made in the edges of the 

 leaves. 



Mr. Schaffner made observations on this plant in the field which agree with 

 the results secured in the laboratory. 



Hackbekry (Celtis occidentalis L.). 



Newly hatched larvae started on this foliage reached the fifth stage before 

 the last one died. They did not appear to care for the food and grew very 

 slowly. 



Mr. Schaffner watched one tree of this species, but found no feeding at any 

 time upon it. 



Pink Hardhack (Spiraea tomentosa L.). 



All stages of the larvae have been observed on this species in the field and 

 slight feeding has been reported, but the foliage will not sustain life through 

 the different transformations. 



Larvae in the trays died before reaching the succeeding stage. 



White Hardhack (Spirted salicifolia L.). 



Tray experiments and field observations show that this species is unfavor- 

 able, since larvae are unable to develop sufficiently to transform to the next 

 stage. 



Hawthorn (Cratcegus sp. ) . 



Field reports indicate that this species is freely eaten by the larvae in all 

 stages. 



This species was tested in the Worcester laboratory and the larvae fed freely 

 in all stages, grew well and went through from first stage to adult. It is a 

 favored food plant. 



