50 Indian Economic Entomology. [ YoL II9 



Larva. Mining' leaves of the tea-tree.-^ 



Hab. Ceylon (Paudaloya). * 



Tj/pe $ % Mus. Wlsm. 



I have received two specimens of this very beautiful^ brilliant and 

 distinct species from Mr. E. C. Cotes ; they were bred by Mr. Green 

 from larvse mining- the leaves of the tea-tree (presumably Camellia 

 theifera), but it will probably be found to feed on other species of 

 Camellia. The neai*est allies of this species are the North American 

 blandella, Z. and helfrageella, Chamb. 



^ According to the account of this insect given by Mr. E. E. Green in the Ceylon 

 Independent, the egg is Liid on the under side of a young leaf, generally on a young 

 bush. On the hatching of the egg, the young caterpillar mines the leaf, the mine being 

 visible on the under side only, and terminating in a small pocket formed by the folding over 

 of the edge of the leaf. Here the caterpillar sheds its skin, and, this done, it proceeds to 

 roll the lenf together, so as to form a shelter in which it lives f )r the remainder of its larval 

 life, feeding upon the substance of the leaf. When full fed, it is about three-eighths of au 

 inch in length, and yellowish or greenish in colour, with a few short bristles scattered over 

 its body. The chrysalis is formed in a flat silken cocoon on the leaf, the pupnl stage lasting 

 about two weeks. The caterpillar is attacked by minute IchneumonidEe, besides being often 

 drowned in wet weather by the water that accumulates in the rolled-up leaf. — JS'. C. C. 



