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Rural School Leaflet 



Cocoons of the apple-tree tent-caterpillar 



pupils should hunt the orchards for those beginning nests. If one is 

 found near by it should be studied and the caterpillars allowed to develop 



naturally so that the 

 pupils may become 

 thoroughly familiar with 

 their habits and methods 

 of growth. 



Observations for the 

 pupils. — I. Why do we 

 not readily see the eggs 

 of the tent caterpillar? 

 Of what use is this pro- 

 tective covering to the 

 insects ? 



2. Describe the egg mass and where it is found. Is it varnished out- 

 side? Of what use is this? Remove some of the varnish and examine 

 the eggs. How do they look? How are they made fast to the twig? 



3. What hatches from the eggs? How many caterpillars come from 

 one egg mass? Describe one of the little caterpillars. 



4. What do the little caterpillars begin very soon to do? What sort 

 of a place do they select for making their silken tent? From what part 

 of the body do they spin their silk ? How does this differ from the method 

 of the spider? Describe how the tent is enlarged. 



5. Observe closely, and if possible describe, how a caterpillar sheds 

 its skin. Why does it do this ? Is the new skin likely to be of different 

 colors and markings from the old ? Note this carefully. 



6. Observe in some orchard at 

 what time of day and during 

 what sort of weather the cater- 

 pillars remain in their tent. Of 

 what use is this knowledge to 

 us? 



7. At what time of day and 

 under what conditions of weather 

 do the caterpillars go out of the 

 tent to feed ? Describe how they 

 destroy the leaves. How does 

 this injiu-e the tree? 



8. Do the caterpillars all live 

 together while they are growing up? Do they still remain together 

 after they are fully grown? Describe a caterpillar that is fully grown, 



Moth of the apple-tree tenl-catcr pillar 



