189 
D atana ministra, Walker.—The Hand-maid Moth. 
As Dr. LeBaron gave an extended account of this insect in his 
third report, a brief description will be all that is necessary here. The 
larva, called the Yellow-necked Apple Tree Caterpillar, is “black 
with four narrow pale yellow stripes upon the sides, narrower than 
the intervening spaces; upper side of the neck or first segment deep 
wax-yellow, hairs upon the body whitish, about as long as the width 
of the body.” This description from LeBaron is from the variety 
that feeds upon the apple tree. Those that feed on the Sumach are 
described by the author as follows: “Body black, in some specimens, 
very dark red, with bright lemon-yellow stripes as wide as the inter¬ 
vening spaces. Top of neck black, sometimes with a narrow anterior 
margin or yellow.” The variety that feeds on the black walnut 
differs from both of these as will" be seen by the following: “Body 
wholly black without stripes, top of neck black, hairs pure white, 
twice as long as the width of the body.” These descriptions were 
taken from the mature larvse that fed upon the different frees men¬ 
tioned. Previous to the last moulting there was much more re¬ 
semblance between the different forms. 
The wings of the moth expand nearly two inches. The fore wings, 
taking the apple feeding variety as the type, are of a reddish or rus- 
sety brown, crossed by four transverse lines of darker brown, with 
traces of another between the third and fourth, and a faint wavy line 
from the apex towards the middle of the fourth. The first line i3 
strongly arcuated, the others less so and oblique, and a dark spot be¬ 
low the costa in the second line. Hind wings lighter, unmarked. 
Head and a space extending round to the middle of the thorax above, 
darker reddish brown; the rest of the body concolorous with the 
wings. The principal difference between this and the other varieties 
is in the sumach form, the wings have more of a yellowish cast with 
the dot on the second transverse line more prominent; while the 
black walnut variety are much darker, being of a more smoky brown, 
with the space between the first and second lines quite dark, and the 
light places inclining to drab, and the head and collar quite dark red- 
dish brown. 
Remedies .—I quote here a portion of Dr. LeBaron’s suggestions under 
this head: “Some seasons they have been so numerous that we have 
thought it necessary to take measures for their destruction. They are 
