MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



tan ridges beneath. Its body is covered with silky hairs, 

 longest on the shoulders, and at the base of the wings. 



The eggs of the moth are laid on apple, plum, or wood- 

 bine leaves, or on grape, currant, gooseberry, chickweed 

 or dock. During May and June around old log cabins in 

 the country, with gardens that contain many of these 

 vines and bushes, and orchards of bloom where the 

 others can be found — the Lined Evening Lover deposits 

 her eggs. 



The caterpillars emerge in about six days. The tiny 

 ovoid eggs are a greenish yellow. The youngsters are 

 pale green, and have small horns. After a month spent 

 in eating, and skin casting, the full-grown caterpillar is 

 over two inches long, and as a rule a light green. There 

 are on each segment black patches, that have a touch of 

 orange, and on that a hint of yellow. The horn increases 

 with the growth of the caterpillar, can be moved at will, 

 and seems as if it were a vicious "stinger." But there is 

 no sting, or any other method of self-defense unless the 

 habit of raising the head and throwing it from side to 

 side could be so considered. With many people, this 

 movement, combined with the sharp horn, is enough, but 

 as is true of most caterpillars, they are perfectly harmless. 

 Some moth historians record a mustard yellow cater- 

 pillar of this family, and I remember having seen some 

 that answer the description; but all I ever have known 

 to be Lineata were green. 



164 



