Z^^ AGRICULTURE OF MAINE). 



by the time the caterpillars are full grown a structure two feet 

 or more in length, unsightly with the accumulation of molted 

 skins and other rubbish. 



The full grown caterpillar is nearly two inches long. It is 

 slender, dark, and velvety with numerous soft golden brown 

 hairs upon the body. A white stripe marks the middle of the 

 back, while the sides are streaked irregularly with white or yel- 

 low. Along each side of the dorsal white line is a row of trans- 

 verse pale blue spots. 



After feeding for four or five weeks the caterpillars leave the 

 tree in search of a sheltered place for their cocoons, a crevice 

 in the bark, the eaves of buildings, or rubbish piles, proving 

 attractive for this purpose. The cocoon is an elongated oval 

 with the outer silk delicate and loosely woven and the inner part 

 firmer and close. The inner cell is painted on the inside with 

 a thick yellow liquid which soaks through the cocoon and soon 

 dries to a yellow powder. 



The insect remains in the cocoon from two to three weeks, 

 when it emerges as a brown moth expanding about one and 

 one-half inches. The fore wings are crossed obliquely by two 

 pale lines. The general color of the moth varies from buff to 

 reddish brown in different individuals. 



Fig. 21. Female moth photographed in resting position; slightly- 

 enlarged. 



remedie;s. 



This insect is so easy to combat that its presence to any great 

 extent in an orchard is due largely to negligence. During the 

 bright days of winter and spring the egg masses are readily de- 

 tected on young twigs as their varnished surfaces glisten in 

 the sun. These should be removed and burned. 



Since the caterpillars congregate in their tents at night and 



