89 



dependent upon such plants as are dried up from July until the rains 

 set in, generally October or November. I will give here the history of 

 one of these : 



Agrotis creuulata, Smith. — On September 29, 1887, one pair of these 

 moths was found about 10 p. m. in coitu on the upper side of a leaf of 

 Quercus agrifolia at Alameda. The female began to lay her eggs the 

 following day and continued until October 10, after which she died. On 

 counting it was found that the number of eggs was 1,026. The young 

 larvre began to issue on October 12. They are, when full grown, very sim- 

 ilar to those of A. clanclestina* for which they were taken before being 

 bred. Naturally all such larvae grow very slowly during the winter 

 months, and reach their full growth about March, when they may be 

 found most anywhere amongst grass, grain, or vegetables. Their chief 

 food, however, consists of grasses. From larvae that eutered the ground 

 in breeding cages on March 12, the first moth came out on April 16. 

 In a state of nature it would be about the same probably, allowing for 

 a week's variation either way in the appearance of the moths according 

 to the situation of the chrysalids. The moths are found from April to 

 July, being most abundant during May and June, at least in localities 

 where food is sufficient. In the Santa Cruz Mountains they were ob- 

 served to appear soon after dark upon the flowers of JEsculus calif ornicus 

 (Buckeye), and could be seen in numbers every night until the flowers 

 disappeared ; in other localities, where flowers and natural food are not 

 so abundant, they may retire sooner into their hibernating quarters. 

 During June, 1886, I found them very abundant in a deep, shady caiion 

 in Los Angeles County, amongst leaves, flying up at my approach and 

 settling down a short distance off. On my visit to the same locality 

 one month later not one moth was seen on the wing. But if at this 

 time one searches closer down amongst the dead aud damp leaves they 

 will be found in a semi-dormant state. After being exposed a short 

 time they soon fly off to a dark corner and disappear again. In such 

 condition they were observed all last summer in the Santa Cruz Mount- 

 ains. In open country, distant from woods, they may occasionally be 

 found hidden under or between boards or in old stumps, rubbish, etc. 

 They prefer, however, to hide in the woods amid the dead leaves found 

 there. As in other parts the warm rays of the sun in the spring awaken 

 many of the hibernating insects, so here the first rains in fall will do 

 the same, especially with the Noetuidae. 



NOTES ON THE HABITS OF THE CODLING MOTH AND ITS ENEMIES 

 AND PARASITES IN CALIFORNIA. 



During my repeated visits to the Santa Cruz Mountains the past sum- 

 mer some observations were made upon the Codling Moth and its ene- 

 mies which may be of interest. The moth as a rule is double-brooded 

 in that locality, and no doubt will not differ in its habits to any extent 



* Professor Riley's First Missouri Report, p. 79. 



