REPORT OF state; ENTOMOLOGIST. 



197 



APPLE TREE TEST CATERPILLAR. 



Fig. 7. Malacosoma americana; a, b, caterpillars; c, egg-mass; (\, pupa; e, female; f, 

 male. (Riley. Bulletiu M, Div. of Entomology, U. i. Dept. of AgrL). 



EGG CLUSTER. 

 The egg-cluster is deposited around the twig in a cylindrical 

 mass, about two hundred in number. They are varnished over 

 with a glue-like substance which glistens in the sun, and are 

 quite easily seen. These remain from the time they are laid 

 in July until the following May when they hatch into very 

 minute caterpillars. 



LARVA OR CATERPILLAR. 



These little caterpillars are gregarious in their habits, feeding 

 together and constructing a silken tent-like structure generally 

 in the crotch of the limbs. They feed during the day and return 

 at night to the nest. They grow quite rapidly and reach matu- 

 rity about the middle of June. It seems wholly unnecessary 

 to describe the caterpillar as this stage is so well known. The 

 distinguishing mark which will separate the Apple-tent cater- 

 pillar from the Forest-tent is in the line extending along the 

 center of the back ; in the Apple-tent the line is continuous, in 



