88 



BULLETIN 61, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



Fig. 135.— The saddle-back, Sibike stimulea: Moth 

 and its stinging caterpillar. 



similar to those of nature. They are usually lain back uppermost, 

 but the position is not important. 



In collecting caterpillars the first thing is to overcome the repug- 

 nance which most people have to handling these creatures. They 

 are practically all harmless, and do not bite, nor sting with the horn 



near the tail. A few species, 

 like the bristly green cater- 

 pillar of the Io moth, the sad- 

 dle-back caterpillar (fig. 135), 

 and the caterpillar of the 

 brown-tail moth, produce a 

 sort of rash on the hands. 

 Although painful for a time, 

 it soon disappears, and one 

 acquaintance will fix these 

 species in the mind, so that 

 the others may be handled 

 without fear. Caterpillars 

 should be picked up carefully, so as not to injure them, but with 

 some of the large forms it is necessary to work their legs loose from 

 the plant, to which they sometimes hold with wonderful tenacity. 



Caterpillars may often be jarred from trees into the umbrella net 

 before they have time to get a tight hold. After heavy storms one 

 may find on the ground or at the bases of trees 

 many caterpillars that have been beaten down by 

 the rain and wind. Some of the caterpillars boring 

 in stems of plants may be located by cautiously 

 bending suspected stems in different directions. 



Early morning and late afternoon are the best 

 times for discovering caterpillars. Many can be 

 located by their droppings, or excrement, others 

 by the partially eaten leaves. Some feed mostly at 

 night, descending to the ground and hiding in the 

 soil at base of the plant during the daytime. Many 

 are protectively colored, and one must scrutinize 

 the leaves and twigs carefully to find them. In the 

 case of the solitary larva?, when one has been taken, 

 other plants of the same kind in the vicinity will pos- 

 sibly furnish other specimens. Whenever one finds a 

 species in abundance, a goodly supply should be 

 taken along, as some may be parasitized, and others may die 

 before reaching the adult stage. Mr. Rowley often traps Catocala 

 larva? by leaning a pair of shingles against a tree. Bits of boards 

 laid on the ground will offer concealment to many Noctuid cater- 

 pillars; lettuce and clover are also good baits. 



Fig. 130. — The bag- 

 worm, Thyridop- 

 teryx ephemer.e- 



formis, female. 





