21 



Tbe caterpillars were beaten from the trees from June 10 to July 17 ; 

 after that it was impossible to find any of them. The moths began to ap- 

 pear July L6-19, and continued to emerge in the breeding boxes until 

 August 1. The duration of the pupa state is about one week 



It is evident that the species is single-brooded and that the caterpil- 

 lar is hatched in August, and becomes nearly full grown in the early 

 autumn, hibernating when nearly full-fed, since the fully grown cater- 

 pillars are abundant by the first week of June. The species has been 

 identified for me by Professor Fernald. It was described from Ken- 

 tucky by Mr. Chambers, but the larva and food-plant have been hitherto 

 unknown. 



When about to pupate it spins a small, thin, delicate cocoon, being a 

 tubular ease of silk covered with bits of the scales of the spruce or fir 

 buds. It is placed next to the shoot in the debris made by the larva at 

 the base of the leaves. Length, 6 mm ; diameter, 2 mm . 



DESCRIPTIVE. 



Larva. — Body cylindrical, of the usual form, reddish, brown in color, and about 

 6-? mm in length. 



Pupa. — Body rather thick, of the usual pale mahogany brown color, the antennae 

 and Tips of the wings on the under side reaching to the middle of the fifth abdominal 

 segment. End of the abdomen full and rounded, with about ten unequal, irregularly 

 situated slender bristles, which are slightly curved at the end; besides these there 

 arc several fine bristles along the side of the body uear the tip. Length, 5 mm . 



Moth. — Head cream white; antennas with the basal (second) joint white, beyond 

 ringed with white and black. Palpi white, first and second joint speckled with 

 black, second (longest) joint ochreous at the end: third (last) joint with two black 

 rings of unequal size, the outer the longer; the tip white. Fore wings moderately 

 wide oblong ovate. Ground color ochreous whitish gray ; costal region blackish, 

 base black. A broad oblique band proceeds from the costal edge to the middle of the 

 submedian space, ending in two white spots ; there are some whitish scales on the 

 outer edge of the band. Just before the middle of the wing is a broad irregular black 

 band, and beyond it in the submedian space a blade spot. A third broad black band 

 crosses the wing, ending on the hind margin and breaking up into three black spots 

 on the hind margin; the band incloses near them two twinned white clots. Near the 

 outer fourth of the wing is a conspicuous white line, sharply bent outwards just he- 

 hind the middle of the wing ; beyond the apex of the angle of the line are several 

 white scales. At the base of the fringe is an oblique line of black scales. The fringe, 

 like the adjoining part of the wing, is of mixed gray ochreous, with black scales. 

 Hind wings rather broad, pointed, pearly slate gray. Legs, including tarsi, banded 

 with black. Expanse of wings, 13 mm . 



When rubbed the green color of the fore wings becomes paler, and the three oblique 

 black hands are more disl inct. 



1 HE LYERGKEEN SPAN-WORM. 



(Tlttro contractata Packard.) 



A very common caterpillar on various evergreen trees, such as the 

 Spruce, White Pine, Hackmatack, and the bush or common Juniper, is 

 a little green one, striped with white, which is so assimilated in color to 

 the glaucous green leaves with their whitish under side as to enable the 

 caterpillar to escape ordinary observation. 



