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[Vol. 87 
Figure 2. Lateral view of Climacia striata cocoon. 
meshed hemispherical net. This outer mesh is formed by thick, 
individual strands of silk running in a sinusoid pattern from one side 
of the cocoon to the other. Each strand is connected to another at 
the “peak” of each “wave” and is reinforced by finer silk which gives 
the strands a frayed appearance. The mean width, length, and height 
of the outer mesh are 3.1 mm, 4.5 mm, and 2.2 mm respectively (N = 
5). From the upper portion of the inner cocoon there are strung 
horizontally from each side to the outer mesh three to four silk 
braces equidistant from each other. The overall appearance of this 
and all Climacia cocoons is one of a beautiful, lacy, silken half¬ 
bubble; when first seen hidden in a small dark niche and illuminated 
a brilliant white by the flashlight one immediately understands the 
fascination that sisyrids hold for entomologists. 
Acknowledgements 
I thank C. S. Henry and C. W. Schaefer of the University of 
Connecticut for constructive comments on this paper, and the 
following for kindly loaning larval and adult specimens: P. H. 
Arnaud (California Academy of Sciences), H. F. Clifford (Univer¬ 
sity of Alberta), O. S. Flint, Jr. (National Museum of Natural 
