95 



the large hollow stems from an inch to two inches in diameter would 

 have over a dozen larvie or pupa3 within them, but no larvse were found at 

 the time upon the umbels. Our next experience with this insect was in 

 1886 on Lord Walsingham's estate at Merton Hall, Thetford, England. 

 Here the larva was chiefly working on the umbels. We brought over 

 with us for comparison specimens of the larvae and imagos, and find the 

 specimens absolutely identical with those from this country. The Eng- 

 lish specimens may be said to be slightly smaller on the average than 

 the American, but from a series of fifty-two bred specimens now before us 

 there is every variation between the extremes, the alar expanse ranging 

 from 21""" to 28"^™. On the average the American specimens are some- 

 what darker or more fuscous, but among them are a number fully as pale 

 as the palest English specimens. We had placed Depressaria grotella* 

 Eobinson as a variety of this species after a study of his figure and 

 description, but Professor Fernald, who has a specimen of grotella, 

 writes us that he believes the two are distinct. 





Fig. 13.— Depressakia heracliana.— a, larva, side view; 6, dorsal view; c, pupa; d, anal ex- 

 tremity of pupa showing hooks; e, moth — enlarged; /, umbel of parsnip webbed together by the 

 larvae, natural size (original). 



EARLIER LITERATURE. 



The first reliable description of the species is that given by De Geer, 

 and must be considered the original characterization, as that of Lin- 

 naeus is ver^^ uncertain. The descriptionsofFabricius are also uncertain, 

 and are questioned among the synonyms. Many subsequent authors 

 have figured and described the species. Albin (1720) is said to have fig- 

 ured it, Eeaumur( 1736) imperfectly figured larva and moth, DeGeer (1752), 

 Shaffer (1758), Hiibner (1805-24), Duponchel (1836), Herrich-Shaffer 

 (1855), and Zeller (1854) have figured the wings, while J. Sepp (1843) 

 lias given an excellent plate of all stages excepting the ^^g. Bruand 



* Lepidopt. Miscellauies. Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y., vol. 9, 1870, pp. 157, 158, pi. 1, 

 /, 10. 



