THE PECAN CIGAE CASE-BEABEB. 



fig. 2) in the leaves, feeding generally on the under side but some- 

 times on the upper also. These mines are deserted by the larvae 

 when they can not reach more of the surrounding tissue without 



leaving their eases, and new mines are made. In tin's way badly 

 infested leaves may have from six to twenty mines to each leaflet. 

 Soon the old mines dry up and are broken out by the wind, leaving 

 the leaves full of ragged holes. The larvae I'rod during the day and can 

 often be seen witli the head and part of the body inserted between 

 the leaf surfaces, eating out the tissues in an ever-enlarging angular 

 mine. If disturbed or in search of fresh food, these larvae will move 

 around considerably. When making a new mine the end of the case 

 is loosely fastened and held diagonally attached, to the leaf. 



fig. 24.) 



HABITS OF THE PUPATING LARVA. 



During May most of the larva? become mature and they then 



either fasten the case tightly to the leaves and pupate or move to 



twigs, branches, or bits of bark on the trunk of the tree and fasten 



the cases there. The larva? spin a quantity of silk by which they 



fasten the cases very firmly to the support, after which they reverse 



their position, so that the head is pointing out toward the unattached 



end. After remaining quiet for a number of days the pupa* are 



formed, and the adults emerge during the last of May or the first of 



June. 



SEASONAL HISTORY. 



As far as observed, this insect has only one brood during the year, 

 the larvae hibernating when only partially grown. 



In Florida the larvae of this species become active from the loth 

 to the 30th of March, when the buds of the pecan are opening, or 

 just after they have opened. Leaving the twigs and sheltered 

 places where they have hibernated, they begin feeding on the buds 

 or tender leaves. In a short time these larvae outgrow their old 

 winter cases and construct new ones of larger size. During the spring 

 ,of 1908 this occurred mostly between April 1 and April 7. 



The larva\ after forming new cases, continue feeding and grow 

 rapidly until May, when they become full grown. 



By May 4, 1909, a few larvae pupated ami, as others pupated from 

 time to time, by May 19 or 20 the greater part of the brood was in 

 (he pupal state. This pupal period occupies about twelve day-. 



An adult was observed in the cage on May 11. but most o( the 

 moths emerge from May l'7 to June 5. On June 3 the -adults were 

 abundant on the foliage o^ pecan. 



The adult probably lays 1km- eggs on the underside o( the leaves 

 during June, and by the middle of duly the larvae are working as 

 miners in the leaves of pecan. After a time they construct their 



