TOs Real 
When full-fed the larve enter the ground and construct long cocoons 
of brownish silk with which particles of earth are incorporated. The 
construction of the cocoon is hardly of distinct threads, but seems to 
be rather of a glutinous nature resembling silk. The cocoons of the 
male are 7.5 by 3.5mm., and of thefemale 9to 10 by 5 mm. (Fig. 14, d). 
_ There is but one yearly generation. 
Although no observations were made on this point, our knowledge of 
allied species renders it almost certain that the contracted larve remain 
unchanged during the balance of the summer and over winter and do 
not pupate until shortly before the appearance of the winged insects in : 
the spring. 
The adult insect is about one-third of an inch long and has an ex- 
panse of wing of about two-thirds of an inch. The males and females 
differ markedly in shape and coloration. The female (Fig.14, /) is stout 
and in general light yellowish or ochraceous in color. A black spot on 
the head includes the ocelli, and the thorax is marked with two long- 
itudinal black stripes. The abdomen is for the most part dark brown 
or black dorsally except the posterior lateral margin and the extreme 
tip. The hind feet and antenne are also dark. 
The male (Fig. 14, e) is much more slender and elongate than the fe- 
male, and is almost black in color, the tip of the abdomen being reddish 
and part of the legs whitish. The antenne of the male are much longer 
than in the female, equaling the body in length; they are also stouter 
and strongly pilose or hairy. The wings in both sexes are large and 
transparent, and the main or costal veins of the fore-wing and the stigma 
are pale. 
The wings of this species possess with great uniformity a peculiarity 
of venation which has been employed to separate a distinct genus 
(Messa). This consists in that the second submarginal cell receives 
but a single recurrent vein, instead of two, as is commonly the case in 
the species of Nematus. This character can not be relied upon, although 
measurably constant in this species, since in other species with the 
normal venation of Nematus this peculiarity sometimes occurs, and not 
unfrequently a single specimen will display the venation of MJessa on 
one side and of Namatus on the other. 
This species was first described by Mr. Edward Norton from a single 
specimen of the male taken in Maryland (Proc. Entom. Soc. Phila., 
Vol. 111, p. 7, 1864). The female was described as a distinct species 
(Nematus aureopectus) by Mr. Norton several years later, from speci- 
mens received from Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania. 
(Trans. Am. Ent. Soe. Vol. I, 1867, p. 219.) The male having been 
first described, gives the name to the species—J. awreopectus becoming 
a Synonym. : 
The natural food-plants of this insect are undoubtedly certain of our 
native grasses from which it very naturally spreads to cultivated grasses 
and small grains. 
