190 Forty-second Report on the State Museum. [48] 



But Little Published of the Insect. 



As almost nothing has been published on the history and habits of 

 this interesting insect and knowing that Miss Morton had given 

 particular attention to the Cochlidice and had been very success- 

 ful in rearing them, I requested, if not desired for publication by 

 herself, that she would permit me to introduce in the present notice, 

 such notes as she might be able to give upon this insect. In response, 

 she has very kindly communicated the following interesting and 

 valuable contribution : 



Life-history and Habits, as Observed by Miss Morton. 



The egg. — "The eggs of the Limacodes bear no resemblance to any 

 other species of Heterocera with which I am acquainted. Most of 

 them would be invisible on a leaf as they are perfectly transparent. 

 Even on white paper, the ova of Parasa fraterna are most difficult to 

 find, and only by holding them against the light, a slight, shiny appear- 

 ance is to be observed like a minute drop of dew. 



" The eggs of P. pithecium are very flat, nearly an ellipse though 

 slightly truncate at one end. When newly laid they are like tiny 

 drops of transparent gelatine, of a pale brownish color, becoming- 

 darker with age and the development of the embryo larva. In ten 

 days the eggs usually produce their larvae, but if the nights are cool 

 they develop more slowly, requiring twelve and sometimes fourteen 

 days to reach maturity. 



TJie larvce. — " Of the young larvae I know but little, as the only 

 year in which I was successful in rearing them, I took no notes, 

 and for the past three years, although the eggs developed, all of the 

 larvae died without emerging. From memory, those that I reared 

 looked, on hatching, exactly like the mature larva in miniature, having 

 the same brown cimeter-shaped processes covered with a soft fur-like 

 clothing, but with the processes shorter in proportion to their size 

 and less curved. They are of very slow growth, eggs hatching in 

 the middle of July taking until the last of September and even into 

 October before the larvae made their cocoons. They did not fully 

 mature until the nights became cold and the leaves changed on the 

 chestnuts, which seemed to be their favorite food-plant. 



The cocoon. — " The cocoon is of a dark chocolate-brown, with the 

 usual 'lid ' of all the Limacodes. The furry appendages of the larva 

 are fastened to the outside of the cocoon, but adhere to it so slightly 

 that they soon drop off unless handled very carefully. 



The moth. — "In emerging, the moth leaves its transparent pupal- 

 case projecting half-way from the cocoon. It seems to be very regular 



