34 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I9I3 



Epinotia piceafoliana Kearfott. 



Journal N. Y. Entomological Society. XVI. 176, 1908. 



About the middle of May 19 12, some of the Norway spruces 

 upon the Campus of the University of Maine, at Orono, were 

 found to be afifected by the larvae of a small moth. Many of 

 the leaves of the last season's growth were found to be dry 

 and yellow in appearance and more or less appressed to the 

 twig (Fig. 9). A closer examination showed that each of the 

 affected needles was hollowed out and tenanted by a little green- 

 ish larva which had gained entrance through a circular hole 

 near the base of the leaf. The mature larva is about 6 mm.. 

 long, stout and greenish or yellowish green in color. The head,, 

 prothoracic shield and the legs of the thorax are black. When 

 grown they spin a dense white cocoon. This cocoon lies be- 

 tween the needles close to the twig. The moths emerged late 

 in Tune, though no observations were made upon this, it is pro- 

 bable that the eggs are laid soon after and that the young 

 larvae hibernate v/ithin the leaf mines, resuming activity in early 

 spring completing the life cycle, in the same manner as Recur- 

 varia piccaella. Mr. Kearfott who first described this species 

 states that the larvae feeds upon the needles of black spruce 

 (Picea mariana) at Montclair, N. Y., the moths appearing early 

 in June. The moths have also been taken in Cincinnati, Ohio,. 

 the middle of May. Those reared by us in Orono emerged in 

 June. 



Moth. "Expanse 9.5 to 10.5 mm. 



"Head light gray, tinged with yellowish on top ; palpi short, scarcely 

 extending beyond head, tuft small, flattened, the scales at outer end not 

 concealing the short, obtuse outer joint, color gray, shaded with black- 

 ish on outside, apical point dusky black ; antennae gray ; thorax light 

 cinerous gray, with a bronzy median shade; abdomen bronzy black, anal 

 ruft gray-ocherous ; legs gray, heavily dusted in front and tarsi ringed 

 with bronzy black. 



"Forewing. — Costa nearly straight, slightly curved at base and apex, 

 termen straight and only slightly oblique. Twelve veins, all free, acces- 

 sory cell large, beginning midway between 10 and 11, outer end opposite 

 7; internal vein ending opposite 5. Color grayish white, crossed with 

 blackish lines and narrow fasciae. The basal area is defined by a heavier 

 dark dentate line, from inner fourth of costa, curving outwardly to 

 inner third of dorsum; before this are three or four parallel fine dark 



