﻿22 BUKLETIK 1363, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGEICULTUEE 



Food plants are given as maple, beech, and birch. It is a favorable- 

 host for Compsilura. 



The green clover worm {Plathypena scabra Fab.) was abmidant 

 for one year only. Several good-sized collections were obtained and 

 from them were reared Compsilura, WintheTnia quadHpustulatay 

 and Archytas aterrima Desv. The species feeds chiefly on clover 

 but at times causes considerable injury to the pea and bean crops. 

 Hibernation takes place in the adult and pupal stages. 



Plusiodonta compressipalpis Guen. and Rhodophora -fiorida Guen. 

 are present in the locality, but they have never appeared in the 

 laboratory collections. Both of the records are from Reiff^^ rear- 

 ings. The species probably hibernate as pupae. 



The army worm (Cirphis uvApuncta Haw.) is a favorable host 

 for Compsilura. It is found throughout the entire season from- 

 May until frost. Hibernation is in the caterpillar stage usually, 

 although the insect is said to overwinter sometimes as an adult. 

 It is of national importance, and serious outbreaks, either locally 

 or over a wide area, are not uncommon. Tachinid flies play an 

 important part in the natural control of this species and their success 

 has probably increased since the advent of Compsilura. During- 

 the last eight years only a few collections of 0. unipuncta were 

 received at the laboratory, but in 1914 several good-sized collections 

 were secured. From these collections there was obtained a very 

 good percentage of parasitism by Compsilura. In the various host 

 and parasite lists where this species appears there are many tachi- 

 nids recorded but only five of them have been reared at the labora- 

 tory. Of these native parasites, Winthemia quadripustulata Fab. 

 is the only one of consequence and the recoveries of this species,, 

 although many times greater than all of the rest combined, are not 

 comparable to Compsilura. For example: Six collections, totaling- 

 nearly 1,000 larvae (from six localities) gave nearly twice as many 

 Compsilura as Winthemia. 



The eight-spotted forester {Alypia octomaculata Fab.) is received 

 commonly in small numbers and was once obtained in abundance.. 

 The species feeds on grape and woodbine. It hibernates as a pupa 

 and is of little host value. The records show three native tachi- 

 nid parasites, {Exorista) Zenillia eudryae Town., Ghfietophlepsis 

 tarsalis Town., and Winthemia quadripustulata Fab., and a few 

 Compsilura. A summary of the parasite records would indicate the 

 superiority of the native species. 



Evergestis straminalis Hiibn. is of little or no host value at the 

 present time. It is constant in its appearance, however, and mighty 

 should there be an absence of favorable hosts, prove more worthy. 

 The insect is found in gardens feeding mostly on radish and turnip. 

 It hibernates as a pupa beneath the soil. 



Catocala sp. : The great difficulty experienced in separating the 

 larvae of this genus necessitated their treatment as a single group. 

 There are at least five species represented' in the collections. In 

 most cases the larvae have been received in small numbers during- 

 May and June, sometimes in July. Compsilura was recovered from 

 two larvae collected in June, 1922. Catocala is of doubtful host 

 value. 



" William Reiff, Forest Hills, Mass., 1913. 



