THE PECAN LEAF CASE-BEAREE. 



11 



the lower limbs. When disturbed they fly rather reluctantly from 

 their places of concealment, but their flight is usually so rapid that 

 it is quite difficult to follow them, although the distance traveled 

 may be only a few feet. When alarmed , moths hiding in the debris 

 around the base of trees often work their way into the dead leaves 

 rather than take wing, and because of their protective color they are 

 likely to escape detection. 



Length of life of moths. — The average length of life for 26 adults 

 was found to be 4.8 days, the maximum 10, and the minimum 2. 

 Data bearing on the length of life are insufficient to give any generali- 

 zation. 



Oviposition and the length of egg stage. — It was very difficult to get 

 reared specimens of moths to oviposit in confinement, but moths col- 

 lected in pecan orchards laid eggs rather freely in some instances in 

 rearing cages, upon both surfaces of the leaves. Under natural con- 

 ditions moths oviposit only upon the underside of the leaflets. The 

 greatest number of eggs recorded as having been deposited by a 

 single individual was 182, which were laid by a moth collected in the 

 field on July 20, 1916. The eggs were deposited as follows: 157 on 

 July 21, 22 on July 22, and 3 on July 23. The records show that a 

 period of from three to five days elapsed between the time of emer- 

 gence of moths and the time of oviposition. Tables IV and V show 

 the length of the egg stage. 



Table IV. — Length of egg stage of the pecan leaf case-bearer at Monticello, Fla. 



Date moths 



were placed in 



cage. 



Date of ovi- 

 position. 



Date of hatch- 

 ing. 



Length 

 of egg 

 stage. 



June 15,1913 



Do 



Do 



Do 



June 30, 1914 

 July 13,1914 



June 17,1913 

 June- 18, 1913 

 June 19,1913 

 June 20,1913 

 July 2, 1914 

 July 16,1914 



June 24,1913 

 June 25,1913 



do 



June 26,1913 

 July 7,1914 

 July 24,1914 



Days. 



7 

 7 

 6 

 6 



7 

 8 





8 

 6 







As shown in Table IV, the length of the egg stage was from 6 to 8 

 days. The moths used in obtaining these records were collected in 

 the field, and from data on hand it is impossible to compute the 

 average length of the egg stage. Upon emerging from the eggshell the 

 larva feeds upon the leaf surface at the place where the egg is 

 deposited. 



