34 



the abdomen and one pair at the tail end. The body is not hairy, neither is it slimy as 

 in some members of this genus, but the skin is somewhat wrinkled. 



The worms are mostly found adhering to the under surface of the leaves, and forming 

 a coil, though sometimes extended, especially when feeding, and as they eat away the 

 entire leaf, cutting away at the edges or at the holes entirely through the leaf, they obtain 

 any poisonous substance sprinkled or dusted on the upper surface. 



When young they usually keep pretty well clustered together or on the same leaf, 

 but later scatter quite generally, the early clustering being due no doubt to the eggs being 

 laid near together and on the same leaf. The worms moult at least three or four times 

 before reaching maturity. 



The worms leave the trees before entering the chrysalis stage, and while I have not 

 succeeded in tracing this stage, it is reasonably certain that it is passed under ground, or 

 at least below the surface mould. It is quite certain also that the winter is passed in the 

 chrysalis stage. 



The imago has been observed abundant from April 15th till into the month of May, 

 and also in the month of June. Whether these are two distinct broods or simply the 

 result of great irregularity in appearance, I cannot say. It is certainly possible, however, 

 considering the time that the first larva? require to attain their growth that they may 

 pupate and issue as a second brood in the month of June. These adults are black 

 throughout, except the upper part of the thorax, which is hon/ey yellow or sometimes 

 orange or reddish, the amount as well as the shade differing somewhat in different indivi- 

 duals. The males are more slender and shorter than the females. In some specimens the 

 front legs are partially yellowish. 



They appear to be most active during the heat of the day, and can be caught without 

 much difficulty in the hand during cool evenings. 



PARASITES. 



Tachina Flies. On trees where these worms were plenty I observed numerous 

 specimens of the friendly Tachinas, and I also found their eggs on great numbers of the 

 worms. So numerous were they indeed that I felt that the worms could safely be left to 

 their attention. 



Ichneumon Fly. A small Ichneumon occurred also in pretty good numbers, and 

 though I obtained no direct evidence of their preying upon the worms, the habits of the 

 Ichneumons are so well known that there can be little doubt of the meaning of their 

 presence. 



The Spined Soldier Bug (Arma spinosa) was observed with the Ash worms impaled 

 on its beak, so it can be counted upon to assist in destroying them. 



REMEDIES. 



London Purple. The trials I made with this substance proved that it is deadly to 

 these insects, and where it can be used without too great expense, it may be considered a 

 certain remedy. On all small shade trees it can be applied as readily as to orchard trees, 

 and even on trees of considerable height a good force pump will suffice to thoroughly 

 sprinkle the leaves. 



Hellebore is also very effective for these and other Saw-fly larvae, but as it is no better 

 than the preceding and much more expensive, there is no need of considering it here. 



Arsenic may be used in solution like London Purple, but must be boiled to dissolve it. 



iTHECLA NIPHON. 



BY JAMES FLETCHER, OTTAWA, ONT. 



About the middle of May, 1883, Mr. A. W. Hanham took a ? T. Niphon a few 

 miles from the City of Ottawa. This was the only specimen at that time seen. 



