Gee-Massey: Aspergillus Infecting Malacosoma 281 



Daily observation of the larvae infected showed that the fungus 

 first appeared at the posterior fourth of the body, and from this 

 region progressed anteriorly. This seemed to indicate that infec- 

 tion takes place from the germination of spores taken into the 

 digestive tract of the caterpillar along with its food. Favorable 

 conditions for germination were found in the region of the hind 

 intestine of the insect and the mycelia produced found their way 

 through the intestinal wall into the body cavity and penetrated the 

 chitinous covering in the region of the dermal pores to the ex- 

 terior of the body. Sections of the larva substantiated this con- 

 clusion, and an examination of the accompanying figure will show 

 the presence of mycelia and spores in the inner layer of the chitin 

 covering the body cavity. 



The entire body cavity was found to be filled with mycelia and 

 multitudes of spores, accompanied by an almost complete disinte- 

 gration of cellular structures. This cytolytic action, coupled with 

 interference with the respiratory processes of the insect, affords 

 sufficient cause for its death. 



Biological Laboratories, 

 Clemson Agricultural 

 South Carolina. 



College, 



