284 Wisconsin State Horticultural Society. 



and more sudden departure, seems mysterious and unaccountable; 

 but the first is due to their being confined to the low lands in the 

 early stages of their growth, and to their minute size and close re- 

 semblance in color to the vegetation on which they feed; and the 

 other to the fact, that when the development of the larvje state is 

 complete, they burrow in the ground and pass into the pupa state. 

 Here they spin a cocoon of a dark mahogany color, and go through 

 the chrysalis development in from two to three weeks, and then 

 make their appearance as moths. 



Were it not for natural causes there would doubtless be such an 

 increase in their numbers and destructiveness as to be fatal to 

 vegetation throughout large portions of the country, but they are 

 held in check by many parisitic foes, and by unfavorable seasons. 

 Much may be done to add to the work of destruction by natural 

 causes, by the use of artificial means. Burning over the meadows 

 late in the fall or eaily in the spring would destroy the eggs depos- 

 ited in the fall, and prevent the laying of the eggs in the spring, or 

 compel the moths to select other fields for this purpose not suitable 

 for their development. The attraction of the light at night would 

 aid in the destruction of the moths of this and many other injurious 

 insects. A candle in a still night, or what is better, a lantern, 

 placed over a dish or tub of water, would lure to their destruction 

 hundreds and thousands. A fire will not answer the purpose, as 

 heat and a great blaze serves to drive them away; a small blaze is 

 all that is needed. 



When the worms are on their march, the best means of staying 

 their work of destruction is to dig ditches across their course; com- 

 ing to them they fall in and are unable to crawl up the sides where 

 cut nearly perpendicular. Here they can be crushed, buried or 

 destroyed in various ways. Such is their dogged perseverance in 

 carrying out their line of march, that they will press on and fall 

 into the ditches to the last individual or until the ditches are full. 



Fall Web Worm. 



Hyphantria textor. — Harris. 



This is another insect which is frequently mistaken for the tent 

 caterpillar. It is true that they have similarity in taste, infesting the 

 same kind of trees, and also in the fact that both spin and inhabit 



