292 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



branches. If disturbed, they raise the forepart of their bodies, 

 and shake their heads to signify their displeasure. When fully 

 grown they measure about two inches in length. Commonly in 

 the early part of September, they crawl down the trees and go 

 into the ground, to the depth of four or five inches, where they 

 are changed to chrysalids. These resemble the chrysalids of the 

 imperial Dryocampa, but are much smaller, and like them they 

 remain in the ground throughout the winter, and work their way 

 up to the surface in the following summer. These chrysalids 

 may often be seen sticking half way out of the ground under oak- 

 trees in the latter part of June and the beginning of July, at which 

 time the moths burst them open and make their escape. Dryo- 

 campa senatoria, the senatorial Dryocampa, which is the name of 

 this kind of moth, is of an ochre-yellow color ; the wings are 

 faintly tinged with purplish red, especially on the front and hind 

 margins, and are crossed by a narrow purple-brown band behind 

 the middle ; the fore-wings are sprinkled with blackish dots, and 

 have a small round white spot near the middle. The male is 

 much smaller than the female, its wings are thinner, and more 

 tinged with dull purple-red. It expands about an inch and three 

 quarters; the female two inches and a half, or more. 



Three more kinds of Dryocampa are found in Massachusetts, 

 but they are all rare in this State. The largest of them is the 

 stigma of Fabricius, or spotted-wing Dryocampa. It is of a red- 

 dish ochre or deep tawny yellow color ; the fore-wings are tinged 

 with purplish red behind, are thickly sprinkled with blackish dots, 

 have a small round white spot near the middle, and a narrow ob- 

 lique purple-red band behind ; the hind-wings have a narrow trans- 

 verse purple-red band, behind which the border is sprinkled with 

 a few black dots. It expands from one inch and three quarters 

 to two inches and three quarters. The caterpillar, which I have 

 not seen, is figured in Mr. Abbot's work*, where it is colored 

 yellow, with black thorns on its back. It is said to live on the 

 oak, in swarms, while young, but these disperse as the insects 

 grow large. 



The following resembles the senatorial Dryocampa ; but is 



* "Insects of Georgia," p. Ill, pi. 5G. 



