Feb. s. 1917 
Sorosporella uvella 
191 
long as the method of formation of these bodies is unknown such usage 
is not entirely justified. At the present time, however, these names are 
perhaps as convenient and acceptable as any. 
As noted above, the vegetative development of the organism is appar¬ 
ently completed within the body of the insect, the growth almost wholly 
replacing the body contents. Under normal conditions, the chitinous 
body wall of the insect remains intact, becoming dry and brittle, trans¬ 
lucent, and very much wrinkled. The body does not, however, become 
mummified as do the bodies of larvae infected with species of Cordyceps. 
On the contrary it is loosely filled with quantities of spores and resembles 
a minute sac filled with dust. 
The fungus consists of large irregular masses (PI. 66, B, C), which in turn 
are composed of numerous spherical sporelike elements that are firmly 
attached to one another. These spore aggregations vary greatly in size 
and form, but the elements of which they are composed are quite uniform 
in size and structure. Upon examining a large number of crushed spore 
masses, however, it would appear at times that the peripheral cells were, 
on the whole, somewhat larger than the inner ones, but at the present 
time it is not possible to say that this difference invariably exists. A 
further difference exists in the germinative power of the outer and inner 
cells. This condition may be readily seen if a crushed spore mass is 
mounted in a hanging drop of water. Those cells or pseudospores which 
were originally internal remain inactive, while those spores which were 
external produce germ tubes in due time. In other respects the indi¬ 
vidual elements are similar. They are nearly spherical in form, have 
rather thick walls, are colorless when viewed individually, and measure 
from 7 to 10 n in diameter. 
As already stated, the spores can be separated from one another only 
with great difficulty, and on crushing a spore mass ruptured spore walls 
are often seen attached to uninjured spores (PI. 66, E , a). 
Sorokin and Krassilstschik both speak of the presence of papillae on 
the spores, and Sorokin also observed a mycelium in connection with 
the spore masses (fig. 1). The same author suggested that the papillae 
were peduncles to which the mycelial filaments had been attached, yet 
thus far no fungus mycelium has been seen within the insect’s body, 
although papillae have occasionally been observed (PI. 66, E, 6). At 
the present time, therefore, the manner of formation of the spore masses 
is unknown, but as no mycelial filaments have been observed, and as 
the above-mentioned papillae have been seen, though rarely, it seems 
probable that the spore masses may arise through the successive budding 
of the original elements. It will be necessary, however, to examine 
cutworm larvae in early stages of the disease or to obtain some evidence 
by artificial culture before this point can be proved. 
Up to this point, the writer’s observations confirm those of Sorokin, 
who was, however, unable to pursue the study further, owing to lack of 
