LEPIDOPTERA 671 



September and October. The larva feeds on various shrubs and trees. 

 The pupa state is passed in a sHght but well-formed web of yellow 

 threads, which is formed between twigs or leaves, and through which 

 the pupa can be seen. 



The evergreen nepytia, Nepytia semiclusdria. — This beautiful moth 

 (Fig. 832) is common in the vicinity of pines, spruce, fir, and hemlock 

 during August and September. It varies 

 from a smoky-ash color to almost snow- 

 white; the wings are marked with black. 

 The larva feeds on the leaves of Conifers. 

 It is reddish yellow above, with lateral 

 yellow bands below, while on each side are 

 two pairs of black hair-lines. There are 

 black spots above on the segments. When 



full-grown it is a little more than 25 mm. 



long and spins a loose cocoon among the p.g_ 832.— Nepytia semidusa- 

 leaves. The chrysalid is green with white ria. 

 stripes and is very pretty. 



The spring canker-worm, Paledcrita verndta. — The eggs are ovoid 

 in shape, and are secreted in irregular masses, usually under loose 

 scales of bark or between the leaflets of the expanding buds. The 

 larvae hatch about the time the leaves expand, and become full-grown 

 in from three to four weeks. , They vary greatly in color, and are 

 marked on the back with eight narrow, pale, longitudinal lines which 

 are barely discernible; the two lateral lines of each side are much 

 farther apart than the others ; and there are no prolegs on the fifth 

 abdominal segment as in the fall canker-worm. The pupa state is 

 passed below the surface of the ground in a simple earthen cell, which 

 is lined with very few silken threads. The adult moths usually emerge 

 early in the spring before the leaves expand; but they sometimes 

 appear late in the fall, or on warm days during the winter when the 

 ground is thawed. In both sexes the adult of this species is dis- 

 tinguished by the presence of two transverse rows of stiff reddish 

 spines, pointing backwards, on each of the first seven abdominal seg- 

 ments. 



Regarding the control of canker-worms see page 665. 



The lime-tree winter-moth, Erdnnis tilidria: — This species (Fig. 

 833) resembles the canlcer-worms in many particulars. The larva is 

 a looper which infests both fruit and forest trees; and in the adult 

 state the male has well-developed wings, while the female is wingless. 



The eggs are oval, of a pale yellow color, and covered with a net- 

 work of raised lines. They are thrust by the female under loose bark 

 and in crevices on the trunk and large limbs. They hatch in May, 

 and the larv^ae attain their full growth in the latter part of June. The 

 larva is yellow, marked with ten crinkled black lines along the top of 

 the back ; the head is rust-colored, and the venter yellowish white. 

 There is a second form of the larva which is brown above with slate 

 color towards the sides. When full-grown the lar^'i, measures about 

 30 mm. in length. The pupa state is passed in the ground. The 



