THE PECAN LEAP CASE-BEARER, 



about one-half the length of the anal pair. The pedal end of each 

 proleg is armed with two concentric ridges of minute claws or hooks. 

 The thoracic legs are brownish, with a tinge of olive green, and each 

 terminates in a single claw. (PI. I, fig. 2.) 



THE LARVAL CASES. 



* When first hatched the larva begins to feed upon the leaf surface 

 about the egg. Soon after it constructs a brownish case out of 

 excrementitious grains and a lining of grayish-white silken threads. 

 The base of the summer case, as is shown in Plate I, figure 5, is 

 invariably placed near the midrib. The case is enlarged by building 

 away from the midrib in whatever direction the larva may chance to 

 feed, and as the larva extends its feeding pasture in one direction and 

 then in another the case soon assumes a very tortuous course. 

 Throughout its entire length the case is securely attached to the 

 under surface of the leaflet. It is composed of a rather flimsy 

 texture of silken threads and pieces of excrement or frass, with the 

 larger end open, and under this protection the larva extends its 

 feeding area unnoticed. While the larva confines its attacks to the 

 underside of the leaf, the upper surface becomes deadened and 

 presents a brown patch, which becomes disintegrated, due to the 

 effects of the weather. (PL III, fig. 2.) 



In the autumn, before the foliage begins to drop, the larvae migrate 

 to the buds, where they construct very small, oval, brown cases 

 (hibernacula) , measuring about 1 mm. (0.039 inch) in diameter, in 

 which they pass the winter. (PI. II, fig. 1.) These brown cases 

 are lined smoothly with whitish silken threads, and are covered with 

 excrementitious particles and bits of bark and bud scales which ren- 

 der them rather difficult of detection upon superficial examination. 



The cases of the matured larvae as they appear in the spring are 

 made of particles of frass, or grains of excrement, which are very 

 closely woven together by means of fine silken threads, and are lined 

 inside with a smooth surface of grayish-white silk. (PI. II, fig. 2.) 

 The finished case averages about 18 mm. (0.70 inch) in length, 

 and is slightly enlarged in the middle. It is always attached to the 

 petiole of the leaf by means of a foot stalk of grayish-white silk. 

 The larva, as a rule, draws down and fastens two or more leaflets 

 about its case, usually feeding upon the tips of these leaflets from this 

 shelter. At first the case is rather loosely woven and slightly curved, 

 but before the larva reaches maturity the case becomes straight with 

 the unattached end larger than the attached one. The completed 

 case, which is of a brownish-gray color, is so compactly constructed 

 and tough that it can be torn only with great difficulty. Just before 

 the larva pupates it seals the distal end of the case with a rather 

 flimsy layer of silk. 



