INSECTS AFFECTING PARK AND WOODLAND TREES 451 



Food plants. This insect has been recorded on several food plants. 

 Dr Smith states that it occurs throughout New Jersey on chestnut, oak and 

 beech, and Mr Beutewnuller gives pine in addition to the above. 



Distribution. This species has a wide distribution, occurring in New 

 York, and having been recorded from the vicinity of Buffalo, Cincinnati, 

 southwestern Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. Dr Hamilton 

 states that it is common in southwestern Pennsylvania, where it breeds in 

 white oak stumps. 



Sesia scitula Harris 



A blue black clearwing about ^ inch long, with yellow-banded legs and abdomen, 

 bores in the larval stage under the bark of chestnut and dogwood. 



This species is known to occur in Canada, New England, Middle 

 States to Virginia and westward to Ohio and Illinois. Ic is said to be 

 closely allied to Sesia pyri Harris. It lives in the larval stage under 

 the bark of chestnut and dogwood and also inhabits the gall of Andricus 

 corn igerous. The dogwood, Cornus f 1 o r i d a appears to be its 

 favorite food plant. This species was bred July 4. from rough, black, 

 polythalamus galls on limbs of black and red oak by W alsh, and the late 

 Dr Kellicott obtained the same insect from globular swellings on oak twigs 

 in May. 



Male. Head and antennae black ; palpi yellow, tip black ; orbits white. 

 Thorax deep blue black with a yellow line on each side and a yellow patch 

 on each side beneath. Abdomen deep blue black with a narrow yellow ring 

 on the second and fourth segments, the latter covering the whole segment 

 beneath. Anal tuft black. At the base of the abdomen is a yellow line 

 reaching to the end of the second segment. Femora blue black, tibiae yel- 

 low with a purple band on the middle and hind femora. Anterior coxae 

 yellow. Forewings transparent, borders and discal mark blue black, narrow ; 

 outer margin broad, with yellow rays. Underside brighter than the upper. 

 Hind wings transparent, margins very narrow, blue black. 



Female. Similar to the male, but heavier. The palpi are wholly yel- 

 low and the fourth segment is yellow above and below ; the fifth and sixth 

 are yellow beneath ; on the forewings the yellow between the veins of the 

 outer border is more distinct and the anal tuft is yellow at the sides. 



Expanse, male and female, 18-22 mm. Beutenmuller 



