NOTES ON INSECTS. 33 



hazelnut. The conspicuous nests are common on choke cherry 

 bushes in Maine, but uncommon on apples. 



Apple bucculatrix. (Bucculatrix pomifoliella) . The 

 cocoons of this insect were received from Mr. L. F. Abbott 

 of the Lewiston Journal, who reports them abundant in Lewis- 

 ton. He also reports having seen them at Wilton, Jay and 

 Livermore. For detailed account see Bulletin 56 of this Station. 



The American tiger moth. (Arctia americana). This 

 was found on beets in a garden. It is not a common species in 

 Maine. The fore wings are brown with white bands, the hind 

 wings orange with round black spots. The moth has nearly 

 three inches spread of wing. The beet belongs to the same 

 family as the pigweeds (Amaranthus) upon which some tiger 

 moths feed. 



Sphinx moths were quite abundant the past season. The elm 

 sphinx was abundant on elms; the grape sphinx (Philampelus 

 achemon) reported on grapes; the twin-spotted sphinx on apple. 

 These insects are not usually abundant but the larvae are capable 

 of doing much damage on account of their large size and 

 voracity. 



The stalk borer. (Gortyiia nitela). Specimens of straw- 

 berries containing the half grown larvae of the above species 

 were received from Buxton. The caterpillars were entirely 

 buried in the berries. This habit is not new to entomologists, 

 but so far as we know has never been observed before in this 

 State. It has been detected boring into potato vines in Maine. 



The usual number of specimens of Cecropia, Promethea and 

 Polyphemus moths were reported. All were found in the cocoon 

 or larval form upon apple trees. Cecropia was also reported 

 feeding on plums. 



The velleda lappet moth, though not an abundant insect 

 in Maine, continues to be reported as doing some injury to plums. 

 The books give the apple, poplar and other plants as its most 

 common food. It is called the lappet moth because the cater- 

 pillar has a flat lobe or lappet on the sides of each segment. 

 These lobes are provided with long hairs, giving the caterpillar 

 a fringed appearance. When at rest the larvae lie close to the 

 branches and are hard to find. 



The forest tent caterpillar was very troublesome the 

 past season in southern and western Maine. Many articles 



