9-i 



Bulletin 187. 



general color is olivaceous or brownish-green, lighter on the venter 

 and usually with a light brown head. Two lateral and two dorsal 

 whitish stripes give tlie dorsum the appearance of being transversed 

 by two broad dark stripes and a similar, narrower niesal stripe of 

 the general body color ; this is well shown in tlie enlarged picture 

 of the palmer-worm in figure 25. There is considerable variation in 

 the general color of the body and head, as is shown in figure 27.* 



*']he following detailed description of the caterpillars when alive is tran- 

 scribed from our notes: Length, half an inch. The general color of venter, pro. 



27. — Palmer-worms, sJioicing their variations. 



legs and true legs varies from a very light apple-green to a light olive-green, or 

 often from a very light yellowish-brown to a flesh color. The dorsum is con- 

 siderably darker, varying from a light to a dark olive-green, and some have a 

 distinct brownish shade. Each side of the mesal line on the dorsum extends a 

 narrow, somewhat broken, whitish stripe, and the darker dorsum is separated 

 from the venter by a similar whitish stripe; this gives to the dorsum the appear- 

 ance of being transversed by two broad, dark stripes, each of which is bordered 

 on its sides by a harrow whitish stripe (see figures 25 and 27); on some specimens 

 where the dorsum is but little darker than the venter or where the whole larva is 

 darker, these whitish stripes are not nearly so distinct (see upper and lower cater- 

 pillars in figure 27). The head is usually of a light yellowish-brown color. On 

 the lighter colored specimens (see upper larva in figure 27) the thoracic shield is 



