THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 657 



cocoons are found from one to three inches under the ground, or 

 among the rubbish and leaves under the trees. The winter is passed 

 as a pupa, the adult emerging in the late spring and early summer. 



Control. 



This pest is easily controlled by hand-picking, which is to be com- 

 mended for use on small trees. On large trees, of course, this would 

 be impossible, and arsenical sprays can be used. Arsenate of lead, 

 using a strength of five pounds to one hundred gallons of water, will 

 do the work admirably. 



Distribution. 



The red-humped caterpillar in California is common in the central 



portion of the State. It is well distributed over the whole United 



States. 



Food Plants. 



Mr. E. 0. Essig^ gives the following food plants : Apple, hawthorne, 

 prune, plum and cherry. Some damage is also done to the walnut 

 trees by this insect. 



Natural Enemies. 



Late in July and August the natural enemies of the red-humped 

 caterpillar are abundant and exercise an important factor in its control. 

 One parasite which does a great amount of good is Apanteles sp. (Fig. 

 364, a), belonging to the family Braconidce of the order Hymenoptera. 

 Numerous individuals emerge from a single larva and spin their 

 whitish cocoons near or on the body of the host. Fig. 364, a, shows the 

 cocoons of Apanteles with the remains of the host, also the adult insect. 



Another important parasite is Limnerium sp. The cocoons of this 

 parasite clustered on a branch, together with the adult parasite, are 

 shown in Fig. 364, b. Unlike Apanteles, only one Limnerium emerges 

 from each host. 



The State Insectary has recently imported a predaceous beetle which 

 we hope will prove of value as an enemy of the red-humped caterpillar. 

 It feeds on this host in both the larval and adult stages. The adult of 

 this beetle is shown in Fig. 364, c, and is only known by its scientific 

 name of Catosoma sycophanta. 



^Injurious and Beneficial Insects, Montiily Bulletin, State Commission of Horti- 

 culture, 1913, Volume 2, Nos. 1 and 2, page 188. 



