LEPIDOPTERA : PHAL^NID^E. 407 



moths, with tapering antennae and large and delicate 

 wings. The females in some cases are wingless. 



The Genus Geomctra contains the Chain-dotted Ge- 

 ometer, G. catenaria, Harr., represented in the larva state 

 by Fig. 300. Its cocoon is made with meshes, through 

 which the insect may be seen. It is now Bnpahis. 



The Genus Anisoptcryx has the wings in the two sexes 

 very unequal, or the females are wingless. 



The Canker-worm Moth, A. vcrnata, Peck, expands 

 about an inch and a quarter, and the wings are large, 

 thin, and silky. The females are wingless. The larvae, 

 called Canker-worms, make their appearance upon the 

 trees about the time the leaves of the apple-tree begin to 

 start from the bud. They hatch from clusters of eggs 

 which have been placed upon the branches at various 

 times in and since the preceding autumn. They imme- 

 diately commence their depredations. The leaves are 

 found at first to be pierced with small holes, but as the 

 caterpillars grow they enlarge these holes, and at length 

 little more is left than the midrib and veins. The Canker- 

 worms vary greatly in color at different ages, and indi- 

 viduals of the same age differ in this respect. When not 

 eating, they are stretched out at full length beneath the 

 leaves. When about four weeks old they reach their 

 full size, and are then about an inch long. They now 

 quit eating, descend to the ground, and, entering to the 

 depth of two to six inches, each makes a little cavity by 

 repeated turnings, and soon passes into the chrysalis 

 state. They remain in this state till after the first frosts 

 of autumn, when they begin to come forth in the moth 

 state, and continue to do so, whenever the weather is mild 

 enough, throughout the remainder of the autumn and the 

 winter. They rise in the greatest numbers, however, in 

 the spring. They come out of the ground mainly in the 

 night, and often make their appearance in immense num- 



