2 BULLETIN 113, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



tosus) in June. Busck makes the following statement in his de- 

 scription : 



I am, at present, unable to separate this species from a series of authentic 

 European specimens of R. nanella Hiibner, and I am conscious of the probability 

 of my making a synonym of this species, the life history of which, according to 

 Meyrick's Handbook of British Lepidoptera, is not definitely known, but which 

 is variously said to feed in flowers or the shoots of pear or on lichens growing 

 on the trunk. 



However, in the same year Houghton (1903) published a short 

 though complete account of the life history of Recurvaria nanella, 

 corresponding in detail to our observations in Michigan. In view of 

 this identity between the life histories as observed in Europe and 

 America, Busck feels certain of the identity of the two insects, as 

 appears in a statement by him in the accompanying footnote. 1 



HISTORY OF THE SPECIES IN EUROPE. 



Stephens (1834) records Recurvaria nanella as "not very uncom- 

 mon in gardens within the metropolitan district (London), frequent- 

 ing the trunks of apple trees in June and the beginning of July." 



Stainton (1854) records the larva as feeding in May, in England, 

 on the pear, making a gallery across the flowers with pieces of the 

 petals and stamens interwoven with silk. 



Bossier (1871-72) observed the tying together of the young leaves 

 of fruit trees by larvae of Recurvaria nanella and its effect in hinder- 

 ing the development of the new leaves, at "Wiesbaden, Prussia. The 

 insect was present in such large numbers as to attract the attention 

 of the public to the deformed trees and to arouse the fear that serious 

 harm would result. In view of the fact that the larva was so small, 

 ate so little, and did not attack the blossoms, Bossier considered that 

 it was not to be feared. 



Houghton (1903) published quite a complete though short account 

 of the life history and habits of Recurvaria nanella from an eco- 

 nomic point of view, as observed by him in England. His attention 

 was directed to the insect in an apricot orchard, where the crop had 

 been practically destroyed by it in previous years. He was the first 

 to note the fact that the larva, after hatching, passes the time before 

 hibernation as a miner in the leaf. He also observed that it was the 

 habit of the larvae to bore into the swelling buds in the spring. The 

 larvae appeared in swarms on peaches and apricots and less com- 

 monly on cherries and plums. In his description of the larva he men- 



1 Recurvaria crataegella Busck (Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., v. 25, p. 811, 1903) is 

 identical with the European R. nanella Hiibner, as already suggested in the description. 

 At that time the life history of the species was but fragmentarily known in Europe, and 

 it was deemed the soundest course to give the American form a separate name, even 

 though it was realized that it would probably prove the same as the European species. 

 The subsequent careful study of the life history in Europe by J. T. Houghton and in 

 this country removed all doubt about the synonymy. — A. B. 



