MONOGRAPH OF THE GENUS SAPERDA 6j 



[pi. 6, fig. 8, 8a]. The general appearance of the larva is also 

 represented. This species seems to be somewhat retiring in 

 habit, and, while it has been collected on the leaves of its food 

 plant, specimens are much more easily obtained by rearing the 

 insects from infested twigs. We have often bred the species 

 from Virginia creeper and have frequently examined much poison 

 ivy where the insect was abundant, but have been unable to 

 find it in that plant. We have taken it in June and July, and 

 Mr Zimmerman records its capture at Buffalo in June. It is 

 probably abroad during most of the two months. 



Food plants. It has been recorded on poison ivy [Zimmer- 

 man], grape and probably Virginia creeper [Harrington], Rhus 

 toxicodendron and R. radicans [Smith], as not com- 

 mon on Rhus radicans in southwestern Pennsylvania 

 [Hamilton], as bred from the larger living stems of Virginia 

 creeper [Harrington], and as in the stems of poison ivy and oak 

 [Lugger]. 



We find that the larvae feed on the inner bark of the branches and 

 stems of Virginia creeper. This species is very subject to attack by 

 woodpeckers, and we have seldom found the workings without evi- 

 dence that a number had been destroyed by the birds. 



Description [pi. 6, fig. 9]. Black, with a sparse black pubes- 

 cence above and a dense gray one underneath. Head yellow with 

 a round black spot in front and one on the vertex, antennae black ; 

 thorax yellow with a black spot at the side and four quadrately 

 arranged on its dorsum ; elytra with a broad, yellow marginal 

 and a sutural band. The process is found only on the anterior 

 claws of the middle pair of legs. 



Distribution. It was described by Say from Arkansas; it has 

 been taken about Buffalo by Zimmerman ; about Ottawa Can. by 

 Harrington ; is reported by Smith as occurring throughout New 

 Jersey; and by Hamilton as not common in southwestern Penn- 

 sylvania. LeConte gives its distribution as the Middle, Eastern 

 and Western states; and Leng and Hamilton record it from the 

 following localities : Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, 

 Pennsylvania, Ohio, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska. 



