THE STRIPED GARDEN CATERPILLAR. 
29 
ornamented are black and yellow, as with the zebra caterpillar, but the 
lateral stripe is divided into two portions, the upper one lighter than 
the lower, and the entire lateral surface when marked consists of 
regular stripes, whereas in the other species these stripes are broken 
up. 
The pupa, when mature, is nearly black in color, and has the 
appearance illustrated (fig. 7, e). It measures about five-eighths of 
an inch in length, including the tips. 
BIOLOGIC NOTES. 
This species was briefly mentioned as having been found by the 
writer in the larval condition on asparagus at Marshall Hall, Md., 
in October, 1896.° At that time it 
was impossible to ascertain whether 
or not it bred from eggs deposited 
on this plant, but later observations 
conducted in company with Mr. 
F. C. Pratt during the first and sec- 
ond weeks of October show con- 
clusively that such must be the case, 
as larvae were found in the greatest 
abundance on three large patches of 
asparagus at Brookland, D. C. 
They usually occurred singly, but 
occasionally in pairs. 
During the heat of the day, in 
the moderately cool and seasonable 
Indian summer weather usual at 
Washington at that time of the 
year, many larva? would be found 
stretched out upon dry sprigs of 
asparagus, and in spite of their 
bright colors they would easily have 
escaped the observation of anyone without experience in insect col- 
lecting. The larva, in fact, furnishes a good example of protective 
coloration. An individual would be in plain sight, and then if one's 
eyes were directed elsewhere for a moment it would sometimes be 
difficult to find it again, although it might be within a foot of the 
observer. 
Larva 4 obtained October 7 and later were kepi feeding on asparagus 
in our rearing cages until the third week of October, when they de- 
scended to the earth and soon afterwards assumed the pupal condition. 
The exact date of the assumption of the chrysalis form was not ascer- 
Fig. 7. — The striped garden caterpillar 
{Mamestra legitima) : a. Adult; b. 
larva from above ; c. same from side ; 
(/, head of same from front : e, 
pupa. All natural size except <!, 
which is enlarged (from Howard). 
a Bui. 10. n. s., Div. Ent 
s. Dept Agr., ]>. 60. 
