FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
149 
means of a foot-stalk of grayish white silk 
to the petiole of the leaf. At first the case 
is somewhat curved, but before it reaches 
its full growth, it becomes quite straight 
and the unattached or free end is always 
larger than the attached one. The fully 
formed case, which is of a brownish gray 
color on the outside and silver gray with¬ 
in is so tough and compactly constructed 
that it cannot be torn apart without much 
effort. This house affords a good means 
of protection for the larva against its 
numerous enemies. Just before the larva 
pupates it closes up the distal end of the 
case with a rather flimsy layer of silken 
threads. 
The full grown larva measures about 
three-fifths of an inch in length and is of 
a nearly cylindrical shape, tapering slight¬ 
ly at both ends (more posteriorly than an¬ 
teriorly) . The skin is quite wrinkled and 
the general color of the body is very dark 
green with the head shiny brownish black. 
The prothoracic shield or neck is lighter 
in color and the second thoracic segment 
has two well defined tubercles. There are 
five pairs of prolegs, which are provided 
with a circle of very small hooks, and by 
means of these minute hooks, the larva 
is able to cling tenaciously to its case. 
The pupa is shiny, mahogany brown in 
color, measuring about two-fifths of an 
inch in length. It is without any conspic¬ 
uous markings. Upon emergence of the 
moth the pupal skin is not extended from 
the case. 
The adult or moth has a wing expanse 
of about five-eighths of an inch. The gen¬ 
eral color is gray marked with whitish, 
cinnamon brown and black. The region 
of the head between the eyes, the thorax 
and upper parts of the legs vary from 
silky white to a dirty gray. The color 
pattern of this moth varies considerably, 
some specimens being quite light 
while others are much darker. 
LIFE HISTORY 
It might be well to give a short account 
of the life history ofl this injurious insect 
so that it can be known in all its various 
stages. Let us start the life cycle at the 
time when the larvae are pupating. As 
stated before the larvae pupate within 
their cases and for the most part pupation 
takes place during the month of May. 
The average length of this stage is about 
three weeks, but it may vary from seven¬ 
teen to twenty-three days or more. The 
greatest emergence of moths occurs dur¬ 
ing* June and these moths at once mate 
and lay eggs from which hatch, within a 
few days after oviposition, tiny dark brown 
“worms.” Upon hatching the larvae im¬ 
mediately begin to feed upon the leaves, 
and from its excrement it constructs a 
loosely woven case, which is quite tor¬ 
tuous. This case lays flat Upon the leaf 
surface and is open at one end to permit 
the larva to feed upon the foliage. The 
open end of the case is several times larger 
than the closed end and as the larva de¬ 
velops, it enlarges its house accordingly. 
Before the leaves fall in the autumn the 
little larvae migrate to the buds and there 
construct very compact oval winter cases, 
which are about three times the size of 
an ordinary pin head. These winter cases 
are called hibernacula. Only upon close 
inspection can these hibernacula be de¬ 
tected as they are so small and of the same 
color as the buds around which they are 
