MAPLE LEAF-MINERS. 409 
The following additional facts are quoted from Mr. James Fletcher's 
report as entomologist to the Dominion Government for 1885 : 
The hard maples (A. saccharinum and A. saccharinum v. -nigrum) in many localities 
about Ottawa have been found to be attacked, to a moderate extent, by the curious 
case-bearing larvae of this pretty little moth ; but on the 12th September last enormous 
numbers were found to be destroying the foliage adjoining the Government House 
grounds. The maple trees, for a space of perhaps 4 acres, had the foliage almost all 
consumed, and the flat disk-like cases which had fallen from the leaves were carpet- 
ing the ground, and were also seen in great numbers on the sides of the trees; these 
larvae probably had boen blown down before mature, and were returning to the 
foliage to feed. Growing amongst the maples were some beech trees, and these were 
also eaten after the leaves of the maple had all been devoured. The attack was 
very severe. The leaves were so perforated and skeletonized, that instead of the 
woods being green they were cream-colored in hue. The larvae, when full-grown, 
are about a quarter of an inch in length, with a brown flattened head, and are of 
a dirty white color. They cut from the leaves small oblong wads, from which they 
form cases, which they carry about with them as they feed. The case seems to be 
fastened at one side to the leaf, and the larva then eats the green part of the upper 
surface, in circles or parts of circles, leaving the fibers and lower surface untouched. 
When it has consumed all within reach it moves on to another spot. The cases of 
the mature larvae are formed of four wads, two of which are about one-eighth of an 
inch in diameter, and the larger pair about three-eighths. When full-fed, which 
at Ottawa is in September, the larvae fall to the ground inside their cases, where 
they change to pupae in a few days, and do not emerge as moths^ until late in the fol- 
lowing spring. » 
The Rev. T. W. Fyles, of South Quebec, sends me the following account of a visit- 
ation, similar to the one experienced at Ottawa last year : " This insect was exceed- 
ingly abundant in Missisquoi County in the year 1881. I noticed it particularly in 
the maple groves belonging to Hon. G. B. Baker, M. P., and Mr. G. F. Shufelt, near 
the village of Sweetsburgh, Quebec. The leaves throughout extensive maple woods 
were so skeletonized that they presented a brown and scorched appearance that was 
very remarkable. It seemed as if a hot blast had passed over large tracts of the 
woodland. Myriads of the larvae in their disk- like coatings were to be seen on the 
leaves and stems of the trees and on the undergrowth. Next season clouds of the 
perfect insects would rise from the foliage shaken by the passers-by." 
47. Catastega aceriella Clemens. 
The larva forms a moderately long, slender, cylindrical tube at the 
base of the leaf of maple, A. ruhrum, early in July, and is covered with 
a thin transparent web closed in advance. The tube increases in diame- 
ter from the beginning to the end, and is placed between two principal 
veins of the leaf, and the web is extended from one vein to the other. 
48. Lithocolleiis aceriella Clemens. 
The larva mines the leaf of maple in September. It mines the upper 
surface of the leaf, making a flat, rather broad track, casting its "frass" 
along the middle of the course of it. Physical characteristics liketfiose 
of the second larval group. The cocoon is circular. The larva is like- 
wise found in the leaf of Hamamelis virginica. (Clemens.) 
