504 MISC. PUBLICATION 657,.U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
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FIGuRE 126.—Galls on chestnut twigs caused by Hctoedemia castaneae. 
weeks. It then cuts its oval case out of the mines and lives as a case- 
bearer. Whenever it is necessary to enlarge its case, the larva cuts out 
larger oval pieces of the leaf and adds them to its case (fig. 127) 
The larva becomes full grown late in August or in September and falls 
with the leaf to the ground, where it changes to a pupa within its 
case, thus completing one generation annually. 
In severe infestations, the leaves begin to hghten in color during the 
first part of June, when the young larvae have eaten out the green 
tissues, causing thousands of small blotch mines, which undoubtedly 
seriously affect the vigor of the trees. As the larvae increase in size 
the trees are defoliated to a considerable extent, and this may occur 
several years in succession. For shade trees, and in maple stands 
of sufficient value to warrant the expense of spraying, an application 
of lead arsenate and fish oil (p. 53) early in June should control this 
insect. Some authors suggest the careful burning of the fallen leaves 
as a control measure. 
Famity HEPIALIDAE 
The Swifts, or Ghost Moths 
The swifts, or ghost moths, have rather long and stout abdomens, 
and the forewings and hind wings are similar in form and venation. 
The forewing has a separate lobe, or jugum, at the base of the imner 
margin, W hich extends under the coastal margin of the hind wing. 
They are medium to lar ge, having a wing expanse of 1 to 4 inches. The 
best-known species are yellowish | to brown or ashy gray, and the wings 
are marked with silvery-white spots. The antennae are somewhat 
moniliform and about as long as the thorax is wide. 
The moths are most active in the evening and have a swift zigzag 
flight close to the ground. The larvae are ‘borers , hormally in roots. 
They are cylindric al, nearly naked, the head is long, and the abdomen 
is furnished with five pairs of prolegs. So far as is known the larvae 
