270 BEUTENMULLER, MONOGRAPH OF THE SESIID^E. 



untenable, not being accompanied by a description. In 1824 it was named Apis 

 persica by Thomas, who supposed it to be a Hymenopterous insect. In 1825 

 Htibner described and figured the female as Paranthrene pepsidiformis, and in 

 1825 Harris called it sEgeria persicce, using Barton's name, but in subsequent 

 papers on the species he adopted Say's name. 



The time of flight of the moths in different States is somewhat variable and 

 more definite data from many localities, especially in the South, are needed. Mr. 

 Slingerland, in 1899, gives a very excellent compiled account, together with some 

 original observations, on the time of appearance of the insect, which is here quoted 

 in full : " The moths begin to appear early in May in the latitude of Washing- 

 ton, D. C, and southward, over what approximates the lower austral region ; in the 

 Gulf strip of this region they are recorded as appearing a month earlier. In the 

 upper austral region, roughly comprising the States above the cotton belt and be- 

 low the northern tier, the moths do not usually appear until after the middle of 

 June ; in the southern portions of some of the States in this region they are re- 

 corded as appearing in May. In the northern transition region, which comprises 

 the northern tier of States, together with most of New York and New England, 

 and also including Southern Canada, the moths appear chiefly in July and later, 

 rarely emerging, however, as early as June 15th, and belated individuals as late as 

 October or even November in Canada. June and July are the worst months for 

 the moths over the principal peach districts south of the fortieth degree of lati- 

 tude, while north of this the moths are the most numerous during July and 

 August, and in Canada from August 15th to September 15th." 



The eggs are deposited on the lower parts of the trunk, usually at the base 

 of the tree. The egg is about .02 of an inch in length, and a little more than half 

 as wide. It is light chestnut brown and subellipsoidal in form, slightly flattened, 

 with an oval-shaped impression on one side. One end of the egg is somewhat 

 obliquely truncate, with a slight depression in the middle where the micropyle is 

 located. The egg hatches in about seven to eight days. The larva lives under 

 the bark of the tree on the sap wood causing severe inflictions upon the tree 

 (Plate XXXVI, Fig. 3). It continues to feed in this manner until the cold weather 

 sets in, when it stops feeding and hibernates during the winter, either in the bur- 

 row or in a thin hibernaculum made over itself outside the bark in the exuded 

 gum. The wound made by the larva causes the sap to flow, producing a large, 

 soft gummy excrescence, which is well known to almost every one. As soon 

 as the warm weather begins the larva again commences to feed until it is fully 

 grown ; at this period it spins an elongate, oval cocoon composed of grass and 

 chips cemented together with a gummy substance. The cocoon is formed inside 

 of the burrow or in contiguous places. 



The larva usually confines its destructive work to the trunk or roots a short 

 distance below the surface of the ground. Besides the peach, which is its most 

 favorite food plant, the larva also feeds in the plum, almond, nectarine, apricot, 

 wild and cultivated cherries, shad-bush (Amelanchier canadensis), and beach-plum. 



