1881. ] Entomology. 63 
worm, which is now a mere empty skin, to the leaf. As the Eu- 
plectrus larve take their places side by side, the caterpillar skin 
is fastened its whole length to the leaf if there are five or more of 
the parasites, but if there are fewer only one portion of the skin, 
usually the anterior end is fastened, the remaining portion either 
hanging down or breaking off. This web of the Euplectrus larve 
consists of an irregular mesh of yellowish-white silk, recalling 
some kinds of mold, and spun to secure the caterpillar skin to the 
leaf, in addition to a few other threads to prevent the pupa from 
being moved from its place. This web should not properly be 
called a cocoon, its character is excellently expressed in Fons- 
colombe’s words as quoted by Westwood?: “larva * * * 
ad metamorphosin filis aliquot sericis longiusculis crispis inordi- 
natis involvitur.” 
Protected by the caterpillar skin as by a roof, the Euplectrus 
larva changes to the pupa, the color of which is dark honey- 
yellow, with the head and abdomen very soon becoming pitchy 
black. The duration of the pupa state varies from three to eight 
days. ; 
The Euplectrus is subject to the attacks of a secondary parasite 
of its own family, and its pupa is sometimes destroyed by another 
enemy, probably some Carabid beetle. 
otton worms infested with the Euplectrus were by no means 
rare during the month of September, and the almost complete. 
destruction of the worms in the earlier part of October was prin- 
cipally due to: this parasite, and to a species of Microgaster 
hitherto unmentioned as a parasite on Aletia—&. A. Schwarz, 
Washington, D: C. 
OVIPOSITION IN THE TorTRICIDA.—The remarks on this subject 
by the editor, in the November number of the American © 
Entomologist, suggest that the observations I have made on the 
life history of Zortrix fumiferana Clem., may possibly be of in- 
erest. 
I have been endeavoring for several years to carry this insect — 
through all its stages, but have not yet been able to complete all 
the links in the chain. It was originally described by Clemens 
in 1865, under the above name, but doubtfully referred to the — 
genus Tortrix, the type being the more common form of this” 
variable species. Robinson seems to have overlooked this insect 
among the types of Clemens and re-described one of the reddish- 
brown varieties under the name of Jortrix nigridea, . 
Some three years ago I was informed that “worms in prodig- 
ious numbers were utterly destroying the evergreen forests” in 
some parts of this State, and a box of them, enclosed with some 
of the twigs, was sent to me, but was not received until after they 
had emerged and crawled over and among the twigs till they ~ 
were denuded past recognition. 
Introd. 11, p. 163. 
