THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 655 



Work. 



The work of the larvae consists in the partial defoliation of the host, 

 particularly during July and August. Sometimes entire branches are 

 stripped of their leaves, the larvffi leaving only the tough mid-ribs. 

 The young larvre begin feeding generally at the tips of the branches 

 where the foilage is tender, gradually working down toward the base 

 of the branch. 



Fig. 363. The red-humped caterpillar, Schizura concinnu S. & A. a, adult moth; 

 b. egg cluster ; c, larvae or caterpillars ; d, pupa ; e, cocoon. About natural size. 

 (Original.) 



Description. 



The adult moth, Fig. 363, a, is of an inconspicuous grayish and brown 

 color; length of body, approximately, five eighths of an inch; wing 

 expanse, one and a fourth to one and three eighths inches. The eggs. 

 Fig. 363, b, are about the size of an ordinary pin-head; are light in 

 color and are deposited in masses on the leaves. The full grown larva, 

 Fig. 363, c, varies in length from one and a fourth to two inches. 

 The head is coral red, being the same color as the fourth segment 

 (first abdominal segment), which is enlarged so as to form a distinct 

 hump. The pupa, Fig. 363, d, is tan to dark brown in color. 

 Length, five eighths to three fourths of an inch. The cocoon, Fig. 363, e, 

 inclosing the pupa, is of a parchment-like texture, being made of small 

 whitish thread secreted by the larva. Length, about seven eighths of 

 an inch. 



Life History. 



The moths emerge in May, June and. July and deposit their eggs in 

 clusters on the leaves. The larvae are voracious feeders, rapidly con- 

 suming the leaves. When not eating they are to be found bunched 

 together on a leaf, which can be picked off and consequently the whole 

 colony destroyed. As the larvae become older, the tendency to remain 

 bunched together is not so marked. They are most abundant in June 

 and July, the number gradually decreasing until September, when 

 they become quite scarce. During the last of July and the following- 

 two months larvse become full grown, drop to the ground where they 

 transform to the pupal or resting stage in a thin cocoon. These 



