385 



ber to the imago state. It was then only to be found on the Black Wat- 

 tle, Acacia decurrens, the larva burrowing into the stems and younger 

 branches, but, as far as my observations went, never attacking the trunk 

 or the larger arms of the tree. It was not unusual to find specimens in 

 the very early morning, i. e. at 5 or 6 a. m., at rest 'ijjon the leaves of 

 the wattle, but later in the day they hid themselves from the sunlight 

 and were very rarely met with. On my return to the colonies during 

 the past summer, I was led to observe that many fruit trees in the gar- 

 den of the Hon. George Coppin, at Richmond, near Melbourne, had 

 been attacked by some pest, and were rapidly approaching destruction. 

 Close investigation displayed the fact that some burrows had been made 

 in the trees somewhat similar to those of the Cossidse, the entrance to 

 these burrows being artfully concealed by a small cap of fragments of 

 wood and bark so closely cemented together as to appear like a portion 

 of the bark itself. Upon cutting down one of the diseased branches 

 and splitting it open, I found that the burrow passed at right angles to 

 the very heart of the branch, and thence downward for a space of 15 

 or 16 inches. 



At the bottom of this burrow I found a full-grown larva, which, when 

 disturbed, wriggled itself about with very rapid movements, crawling 

 ui> and down its burrow with surprising quickness. Below the home 

 of the first insect noted was another burrow of 12 inches in depth, and in 

 this I found a healthy pupa, equally with the larva disinclined to leave 

 its resting place. Wherever throughout the garden a dead branch was 

 to be seen, it was always found to contain one or more of these insects 

 in either the larva or pupa state, and their number can be guessed at 

 when I say that not less than thirty trees had been more or less attacked 

 by this destructive species. Those most affected were cherry, plum, 

 apricot, nectarine, peach, and quince, but I found also one pear tree 

 containing a larva, and it is possible that in the course of a short time 

 the apple trees may also suffer. As in the Cossidae, ^geriadie, and 

 other internal feeders, the ])upa when near the final change, works its 

 way to the mouth of the burrow, and the moth as it emerges softens the 

 cover of chips with which the entrance is closed, and so makes its 

 escape. The pupa does not protrude, as is the case in the above men- 

 tioned families, but remains a little distance within the opening. The 

 moths emerge from the pu^^a about 6 or 7 p. m. and ma^' be found ad- 

 hering to the branches, often in copula. They are easily attracted by 

 light, and no less than eighteen fine specimens were taken in one 

 evening at a lamp placed rather high in the house. They are exceed- 

 ingly delicate insects, and are easily killed in the cyanide bottle, usually 

 dying in from 20 to 25 seconds. Great care has to be exercised in 

 handling them, as the fine silvery white scales are very readily removed. 

 The genus appears to be distinctly Tortricid, and has nothing in common 

 (save its method of burrowing) with the Cossid;^, in which it has been 

 placed by some authors. The following descriptions apply to the stages 

 in which I was enabled to observe it. 



