OF THE FARM Al^D GABDEK. 



219 



under the false imiDression that the cocoons are the eggs 

 of the worm. The cocoons of a parasite are shown upon 

 another large larva, on page 88; figure 59. 



THE ACHEMON SPHINX. 

 (Philampelus achemon, Drury.) 



This is another large Grape-vine-feeding insect, belong- 

 ing to the great SjMnx family, and which may be popu- 

 larly known as the Achemon Sphinx. It has been found 

 in almost every State where the Grape is cultivated, and 

 also in Canada. It feeds on the American Woodbine 

 or Virginia Creeper (Ampelopsls qui7iquefolia) with as 

 much relish as on the Grape-vine, and seems to show no 

 preference for any of the different varieties of the latter. 

 It is, however, worthy of remark, that both its food- 

 plants belong to the same Botanical Family. 



The full grown worm or larva is usually found during 

 the latter part of August and fore part of September. It 

 measures about three and one-half inches when crawling, 

 which operation is effected by a series of sudden jerks. 

 The third segment is the largest, the second but half its 

 size, and the first still smaller, and when at rest the two 

 last mentioned segments are partly withdrawn into the 

 third. The young larva is green, with a long slender 

 reddish horn rising from the eleventh segment and curv- 

 ing over the back, and though we have found full grown 

 specimens that were equally as green as the younger 

 ones, they more generally assume a pale-straw or red- 

 dish-brown color, and the long recurved horn is invaria- 

 bly replaced by a highly polished lenticular tubercle. 

 It is often of a pale-straw color which deepens at 

 the sides and finally merges into a rich vandyke- 

 brown. The worm is covered more or less with minute 

 spots which are dark on the back but light and annulated 



