720 Report oF THE ENTOMOLOGIST OF THE 
Unlike the squash-bug, this insect does its work of destruction 
in the larval* state only. In this case it is a fat, white, grub-like 
larva, which, when full grown, is about an inch long and has a 
dark-brown head. Plate ILI, Fig. 1, represents the larva, and Fig. 
2 the head and first segment, showing the peculiar V-shaped 
marking. The mature insect is not generally well known, as it 
is seldom seen except in the cool of the day —early morning 
and just at dusk, when they are somewhat sluggish. When 
once examined, however, this beautiful insect is not likely to be 
forgotten. One can hardly realize that sucha repulsive looking, 
clumsy grub could become such a spry, fairy-like moth. 
Although the colors are subject to more or less variation, the 
body is usually tawny brown, with five black spots on the upper 
side. The fore wings are brown, but have a greenish tinge. In 
shape they are long and narrow. The hind wings, being devoid 
of scales, except on the margins and veins, are transparent. 
They are shorter and broader than the fore wings. Plate III, 
Fig. 5, shows the mature moth. 
This insect belongs to the same order as the butterflies, des- 
ignated as Lepidoptera, and to the same family as the currant 
stem borer and peach-tree borer. The squash vine borer has 
long been known in the United States and was first described by 
Dr. Harris in 1828. It is within more recent years, however, 
that its work has attracted much attention. In his annual report 
for 1885, Dr. Lintner published an account of it in response to 
inquiries and requests from numerous New York farmers. To 
the unaccustomed eye these insects resemble bees and wasps and 
are often mistaken for them. 
Life-History. 
According to Rev. Mr. Hulst, as quoted by Dr. Lintner t+, who 
was one of the first observers of this insect on the island, “the _ 
moth appears shortly after July 1lst.t During the summer of 
1882 I captured some 30 specimens about a small bed of summer 
squashes in a neighbor’s garden. The moths fly during the day, 
*It may be well to note that the term larva is used to designate the first stage after the egg. 
Larvee are frequently incorrectly referred to as worms, ‘‘ Pupa,” that stage which immedi- 
ately follows the larva and ‘‘imago” or ‘‘adult”’ as the last stage or mature insect. 
+Second Annual Report on the Injurious and Other Insects of the Vine of the State of New 
York, p. 61. : 
+It is now known that this insect appears on Long Island frequently by the middle of June. 
