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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



where they eat the soft paranchyma, feeding most voraciously. 

 They begin to spin webs in these retreats when about a week old 



and frequently several leaves are 

 fastened together, in the midst of 

 which the caterpillars feed. They 

 will also subsist on sheep sorrel if 

 grass is not available. The last of 

 September, about a month after 

 hatching, the young caterpillars con- 

 struct near the surface of the ground 

 cylindric perpendicular nests which 

 are usually attached to one or more 

 stalks of grass. The outside of this 

 retreat is covered with finely chewed 

 bits of grass, while the inside is 

 smoothly lined with silk. The nests 

 are about ^ inch long and yV '^ 

 diameter. They are strengthened as 

 necessities demand by the addition of 

 more grass to the outside, and occa- 

 sionally a large piece is attached to 

 the side of the nest, though usually 

 the pieces are small and of nearly the 

 same size. The larvae retire for the winter about the first of Novem- 

 ber, closing the free end with a bit of grass. Some nests have an 

 underground chamber and a passage which probably allows the exit 

 of the larvae during mild days and gives them access to the roots of 

 grass. The larvae come forth in the spring and according to 

 Dr Lintner complete their growth and pupate in June, the insects 

 appearing 15 days later. 



Dark-spotted Cr ambus 



Crambus mutabilis Clem. 

 This species, with a wing spread of about ]/s inch, may be recog- 

 nized by the dark spot near the middle of the slaty forewing. 

 There is also a dark subterminal line which is usually rubbed so 

 as to give the appearance of a second dark spot. It is a larger 

 species than the sooty Crambus, C. c a 1 i g i n o se 1 1 u s Clem., 

 which it resembles somewhat. The moths fly the latter part of the 

 afternoon and early evening during June, July and even in August 

 and September. This close-wing seems to be confined to low 

 or damp land and is easily attracted to lights. The species is a 



Fig. 5 Crambus trisectus, larval 

 tube at base of grass stem, enlarged 

 (Redrawn from author's illustration) 



