2IO AGRICUI.TURE OF MAINE. 



Many of them are sent by persons who are quite sure they 

 must be the brown-tail moth nest or some state of the gipsy. 

 Under the circumstances we have thought best to fall into line 

 with the other publications and give its life history together with 

 the cuts which will do away with much descriptive matter. 



Plate II, Fig. i shows the male moth. The female is gen- 

 erally somewhat larger with a more robust body and narrower 

 antennas. The average spread of the wings is about five and 

 one-half inches. The moths hatch about the middle of June 

 from the cocoons found on the trees during the fall, winter and 

 spring. The eggs are laid soon after the moth emerges, the 

 female depositing them singly on the leaves of the food plant. 

 This is why the cocoons are found so scattered. The cater- 

 pillars feed on many of our hard wood trees, including our 

 fruit trees. 



When fully grown the caterpillar measures about three and 

 one-half inches in length. Shown Plate II, Fig. 2. It is of 

 a light green color. Each segment has several wat-like spiny 

 projections enlarged at the ends. These along the back are 

 tipped with yellow with the exception of a pair on each of the 

 second and third segments which are orange-red. On each 

 side of the body there are two rows of a bluish tinge. Although 

 these caterpillars have rather a formidable appearance they are 

 perfectly harmless. They reach their growth in August or the 

 first of September and spin their silken cocoons. The cocoon 

 consists of a very tough silk, made double with loosely spun 

 threads connecting the coats, thus giving them a dead air space 

 for protection from the severe cold of winter. 



Plate II, Fig. 3 shows a cocoon cut open and the pupa in 

 position just as it looks after the caterpillar has completed its 

 spinning and thrown off its skin to remain at rest until the 

 following spring. The segments of the body are plainly shown 

 also the rudimentary wings, antennae, legs, etc. 



Although the caterpillars grow to such a size yet as they feed 

 by themselves, usually but one on a tree, they do no appreciable 

 damage. 



The female lays about three hundred eggs. But very few 

 of the caterpillars reach maturity as the birds destroy many of 

 them. Several species of parasites help to keep them under 

 control. (See page 216.) 



