256 
THE STUD Y OF INSECTS . 
curious type of larval habits. It infests the leaves of maple, 
and occasionally is so abundant that it does serious injury. 
The leaves of an infested tree present a strange appearance 
(Fig. 303). They are perforated with numerous elliptical holes, 
and marked by many more or 
less perfect ring-like patches 
in which the green substance 
of the leaf has been destroyed, 
but each of which incloses an 
uninjured spot. These inju¬ 
ries are produced as follows: 
The young larva cuts an oval 
piece out of a leaf, places it 
over its back, and fastens it 
down with silk around the 
edges. This serves as a house 
beneath which it lives. As it 
grows this house becomes too 
small for it. It then cuts out 
a larger piece which it fastens 
to the outer edges of the 
Fig. 303.—Leaf infested by Inctirvarta, smaller One, the larva being 
between the two. Then it fastens one edge of this case to 
the leaf by a silken hinge so that it will not fall to the 
ground “ cradle and all,” and then turns the case over so that 
the larger piece is over its back. When it wishes to change 
its location it thrusts out its head and fore legs from the 
case and walks off, looking like a tiny turtle. When it 
wishes to eat it fastens the case to the leaf and, thrusting its 
head out, eats the fleshy part of the leaf as far as it can reach. 
This explains the circular form of the patches, the round 
spot in the center indicating the position of the case. The 
insect passes the winter in the pupa state within its case ? 
which falls to the ground with the infested leaf. The moth 
is of a brilliant steel-blue or bluish-green color without spots; 
it appears in early summer. 
