42 



this point for some time. The vine affected in this way almost stops 

 growing. The head turns downward, and no longer embraces the pole. 

 Such vines are called " muffle heads" or "stag vines," and sometimes 

 " bullheads," by the growers, and the larva inhabiting them is called the 

 "tip worm." 



When the larva is about half an inch long it leaves the tip, drops to 

 the ground, and enters the stem at the surface of the ground, feeding 

 to some extent upward and stopping the growth of the vine. It is now 

 called the "collar worm." The larva changes in color at this time and 

 becomes dirty white with a reddish tinge, and is furnished, as shown at 

 fig. 35, with numerous black piliferous spots. It begins work by eating 

 small holes in the side of the stem just below the surface of the ground 

 and just below the old root, and seems to nourish itself mainly upon 

 sap. The opening is gradually enlarged until the vine is nearly or 

 quite severed from the parent root. Toward the end of July the larva 

 becomes full grown and is then nearly 2 inches in length. It is stout in 

 shape, dirty white in color, and furnished with numerous brown elevated 

 piliferous spots, arranged as shown in the figure. The head, cervical, 

 and anal plates are dark brown in color. 



Transformation to pupa is effected in a rude cell close to the roots of 

 the plant. According to Dr. Smith, the majority of the insects pass 

 the winter in the pupa condition. A few adults, however, appear in 

 the fall. Professor Comstock states that the pupa stage lasts about 

 a month, and the moths make their appearance in the latter part of 

 August or September. He considers it probable that these moths 

 hibernate. Dr. Fletcher says the pupa state lasts from five to seven 

 weeks, and that the moths are found on the wing during September 

 and October. He further says that they pass the winter in a torpid 

 state, probably beneath refuse and rubbish. Several specimens, which 

 he kept alive in a breeding cage, remained constantly on the bottom 

 and took advantage of any small object to hide beneath it. According 

 to the observations of Dr. Lintner, the adult insect appears in the late 

 summer, and he infers hibernation in that stage. He has collected it 

 only between August 25 and September 6. Other collectors whom he 

 mentions have captured the adult insect between August 15 and Sep- 

 tember 23. 



Dr. Smith therefore states that hibernation is almost universally in 

 the pupa stage, and all other authors say that hibernation in the adult 

 state is the rule. The moth itself, although somewhat inconspicuous in 

 general appearance, is beautifully marked when examined closely. The 

 pattern of the wing markings is shown in fig. 35. The general color is 

 a rosy brown, paler at the extremities of the wings. The darker cen- 

 tral portion is shaded with dark velvety bronze and marked with two 

 dull yellow spots. The fore wings are divided into three areas by nar- 

 row oblique transverse lines, edged outwardly with pink. The hind 

 wings are paler in color, crossed in the middle by a slightly darker line. 



