408 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



eastern portion of the State. The work of this species is quite character- 

 istic, in that the mass of pitch is on the upper side of the smaller limbs and 

 twigs. Many of these pitch collections show two layers or masses of differ- 

 ent age and this is specially true in the spring. The more recent layer is 

 the record of the later activities of the caterpillar, which, boring in the 

 center of the twig, carries the accumulating pitch out and deposits it around 

 the entrance of its gallery [pi. 20, fig. ij. 



Early history. This species was described in 1879 by Prof. C. H. 

 Fernald, from examples sent him by Professor Comstock, whose attention 

 had been attracted by its work. Professor Comstock records this borer as 

 quite abundant in the vicinity of Ithaca N. Y. Dr Lugger has taken the 

 moth at Baltimore Md., and Dr Hopkins states that this insect is common 

 in West Virginia, on the living twigs of pitch pine near Kanawha Station, 

 and adds that it is frequently observed wherever pitch pines grow. The 

 writer has also observed the work of this insect in several localities in 

 Massachusetts. 



Life history. This species passes the winter in the larval or caterpillar 

 stage, and at Karner, operations begin about Ap. 15. This is very nicely 

 indicated by the fresh layers of pitch placed on the outside of masses exposed 

 to the weather during the winter. The spring addition is frequently nearly 

 equal to the accumulation of the previous season, and the demarcation 

 between the old and the new is very evident. June 12, 1901, an empty pupal 

 case was seen, but no adults were obtained in breeding cages till the 20th. 

 Though a considerable number of the infested twigs were collected at 

 various times during 1901, we succeeded in breeding the moth only during 

 the month of June. Professor Comstock expresses the opinion that this 

 insect passes through two generations in one season, though our data hardly 

 bear out this conclusion. We have been unable to make any observations 

 on the duration of the period during which the moth flies, or on the method 

 of oviposition. The preparation for hibernation has been described by 

 Professor Comstock. He states that the larva lines its burrow with a 

 delicate layer of white silk, which often forms a closed tube at the lower 



