210 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



X. grotei are one and the same species.' Differences in the time of 

 flight have been observed by Prof. Hudson in the case of closely- 

 related species, as, for example, Eyprepia virgo Linn, and Eyprepia 

 parihenice Kirby, their periods being well separated except for a few 

 stragglers. The same he found true in the case of Feltia herilis Grote 

 and Feltia subgotliica Haw., but not so with the species under dis- 

 cussion. During several years of collecting, Prof Hudson has taken 

 these moths (X antennata^ X. laiicinerea and X. grotei) from Sep. 25 

 into early November, they being most abundant from the last of Septem- 

 ber throughout October, and from March 2 to May 2, occurring in the 

 spring in greatest numbers from about March 20 to April 13. He also 

 writes: 'I have taken specimens at sugar w-hile the grass and pools of 

 shallow water were freezing at my feet. The moths probably kept in the 

 warmer upper layers. I have taken them when the temperature 6 feet 

 from the ground was but 3 degrees Centigrade but never below this. On 

 one of these occasions, a very light snow was falling, yet I found a single 

 specimen feeding at sugar at 6.30 p. m. This was on April 2, 1889.' 



Life history. Usually the larvae are not observed till May or June. 

 They complete their gro\vj:h by the middle of the latter month, enter the 

 ground and pupate an inch or more below the surface. They remain in 

 the quiescent stage till September, when most of them emerge. Though 

 some hibernate as pupae, the majority pass the winter as adults. It has 

 been stated that in the south, the eggs are deposited on the under sur- 

 face of the leaves. No record of the oviposition in the north has been 

 made. 



Food habits. Though comparatively little is known about the food 

 habits of this species, it is probably a somewhat general feeder. Dr 

 Riley records attacks by the larvae of X. antetinata on apples, peaches, 

 oak galls, hickory leaves and those of other forest trees. Their feeding 

 upon rose buds and maple foliage has alieady been mentioned. The 

 extensive defoliation of the soft maj^les wouhi indicate, however, that 

 the species becomes abundant only when climitic and other conditions 

 favor its rapid development upon some favorite food plant like the soft 

 maple. In his bulletin, Prof Slingerland adds peas, i)lums, currants and 

 quinces to the li^t of fruits injured and states that one grower had to 

 watch the buds on grafted pears to prevent their beino; destroyed. 



Farther observations may greatly extend the list of known food plants. 



Natural enemies. Two hymenoptera, MesocJiorus agilis Cres. and 

 Meteonis hvphantriae Riley, were reared from X. laticinerca by Prof Sling- 

 erland. They would i)robably attack X. antennata with equal readiness. 



