290 * Report of the Entomologists of the 



The forest tent-eatcrpillar differs from most species usually dis- 

 cussed in our bulletins in that it is of importance not to the far- 

 mer alone, whose fruit and forest trees it readily defoliates, but 

 to the people of the villag;cs and cities as well, when, as during 

 the past season, the hordes of caterpillars defoliate and render 

 unsightly the maple and other shade trees of many village and 

 city streets. 



This extensive destruction has created a general interest in the 

 species so that there is a demand from all classes of people for 

 information on the subject. The writer has had the species under 

 observation during most of the past two seasons and has prepared 

 this bulletin with the hope of aiding in disseminating the desired 

 information. 



THE FOREST TENT-CATERPILLAR. 



Clisiocampa disstria Hubn. 

 Order Lepidoptera. Family Lasiocampidae. 



classification and name. 



Classification. — As indicated by its scientific name the forest 

 tent-caterpillar belongs to the same genus, and hence to the same 

 order and family as the apple-tree tent-caterpillar discussed. in 

 Bulletin 152 of this Station. The two sj)ecies are closely related 

 and have many similar habits. 



Scientific name. — The species was originally described by 

 Hubner,^ probably in 1822, as Malacosoma disstria, but was later 

 referred to the genus Clisiocampa established by Curtis in 1828. 



Popular name. — The popular name " Forest Tent-Caterpillar " 

 or as occasionally given " The Tent-Caterpillar of the Forest " is 

 in reality a misnomer for the caterpillars seldom spin a true tent, 

 although they have the habit of leaving a thread of silk wherever 

 they go. It has also been referred to by some writers as the 

 " Forest Caterpillar." 



1 Verzeichniss bekannter Schmetterlinge, p. 122. 



