194 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



nests counted averaged 319. They are covered with the brown 

 hairs detached from the tuft of the abdomen during the process 

 of laying. 



The choice of food plants is varied, as they are found on all of 

 our fruit trees, most of the shade trees and many of our decid- 

 uous forest trees. They will not feed on the evergreens. 



As stated above the caterpillars do but little harm to the trees 

 during the fall, as they are simply getting ready for the hiber- 

 nating period of winter. But in the spring as soon as the buds 

 start they are ready for work. As they grow they shed their 

 skins, or moult, several times, feeding rapidly and spreading 

 over the tree as they grow, so that most of the damage to the 

 trees occurs during the months of May and June. 



THE CATERPILLAR. 



The caterpillars reach their growth about the last of June. 

 They then average about one and three-fourths inches in length. 

 The body is of a dark slate color, approaching a brownisH-black 

 in some cases. 



There are irregular yellow and orange markings scattered 

 over the body, also a double broken dorsal line of the same 

 colors. 



The tubercles are black, from which project long reddish- 

 brown hairs. The hairs on the second segment project well 

 forward over the head. Tufts of short white hairs occur on the 

 upper edge of the medial row of tubercles, extending from the 

 fifth to the twelfth segment inclusive, eight on each side. 



These white patches along the sides are the characteristic 

 markings for this caterpillar and will readily distinguish them 

 from other species. On each of the tenth and eleventh seg- 

 ments is a round orange-red dorsal tubercle with a depressed 

 center. 



The larvse on reaching maturity seek some convenient place 

 in which to pupate. They then proceed to spin a few silken 

 threads, just enough to retain them in place. Throwing off 

 their caterpillar skins they appear in the usual pupse form ; 

 being of a reddish-brown color, from five-eighths to three- 

 fourths of an inch in length. 



The moths hatch about the middle of July and deposit their 

 eggs as above stated, thus completing their life cycle. 



