116 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
FEKDING ON THE BUDS. 
160. Mamestra detracta Walk. 
The following observations have been recorded by Professor Riley:* 
Larva* of this species were noticed, April 90, 1884, n<-ar Rock Creek, Washington, 
D. C, feeding at night on the huds of oak, and others were seen resting on the twigs 
of different kinds of trees and shrubs. 
They transformed to papa bj the 2d of May, and the moths commenced issuing by 
the 83d of the same month. The pupa is quite aetive, and if placed ou a table is 
ab]»« to crawl readily, on account of the spines along its sides. 
Moth.— Dark gray. Hind wings black. Expanse of wings, l."20 inches. 
161. Agrotis alternata Grt. 
The larv;e of the above species were observed, during April, 1884, to climb all 
kinds of trees and shrubs and to feed on the buds, especially those of the oak and 
hickory. They seemed to prefer, however, the hickory, as on some of the smaller 
bushes almost every bud had a hole, sometimes even two or three, and the worms 
may often be observed when feeding to have penetrated so far that only about one- 
half of their body projects from the bud. On one small oak shrub six of these larva) 
were found at work. Numbers of these larvae were also noticed at night to feed on 
the liquid which was placed on the trunk of oak trees for the purpose of capturing 
moths. They would feed in confinement on almost any kind of leaves from trees and 
shrubs and also on grass. By the 1st of May numbers of them were noticed every 
evening, as soon as it became dark, to ascend the trunks of the trees and shrubs. 
Some begin at this date to enter the ground for transformation, and the moths issue 
from the 6th to about the end of June. (Riley.) 
Moth. — Color reddish brown, sprinkled with dark brown atoms. Lines obliterated. 
No white along the costa. Subterminal space darker than the rest. The wings 
tinged with grayish ; no ante-apical spot. Expanse of wings, 1.50 inches. (French.) 
162. Scopelo8oma sidus Guen. 
This (writes Prof. Riley) is one of the earliest noctuids of the season. 
Specimens which were captured March 24, 1884, at sugar, commenced 
to deposit their eggs the following day, the larvae hatching therefrom 
in about fifteen days. Not fiuding any leaves they commenced at once 
to attack the leaf-buds of oak, wild cherry, apple, peach, and perhaps 
other trees and shrubs, into which they bore. 
The larvae commence entering the ground by about the 10th of May, 
and the moths emerge from the last of September to the early part of 
November, many, however, remaining as pupae till the next spring. 
Larvae of the species were found in May at St. Louis, Mo., feeding 
on blackberry, the moth issuing in October. 
Eggs. — Globular, with numerous fine ridges, of a yellowish-white, which gradually 
changes into a light brownish color. 
The newly hatched larva are whitish with black head and dusky thoracic plate and 
legs. The first molt takes place about seven days after hatching, and with it 
there is quite a change in coloration. The thoracic segments, a broad lateral stripe, 
and the anal segment are reddish. The warts are prominent, black, bearing a short, 
fine hair. 
* For this habit of low-plant feeders eating the buds of trees in early spring, see 
Weismann's Studies in the Theory of Descent, i, *271. 
