290 UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM BULLETIN 2 76 



caterpillar." In keeping with these regional names for other large tent 

 builders, it is suggested that M. incurvum be called the "Southwestern 

 tent caterpillar" since it occurs in southwestern North America. 



Malacosoma constrictum and Malacosoma tigris are closely related in 

 many ways, but they are geographically well separated. Both of them 

 are restricted to oaks, so "oak tent caterpillar" is not a good choice for 

 either one. However, since M. constrictum occurs only in the western 

 parts of Washington, Oregon, California (fig. 4), and probably in 

 Baja California {M. constrictum austrinum) it is suggested that it be called 

 the "Pacific tent caterpillar." 



Malacosoma tigris occurs in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, 

 Texas, and southwestward through the Mexican plateau (fig. 1 ) . There 

 is no good regional or geographical name that applies to this area. 

 The name "southern" is not appropriate since it implies the south- 

 eastern part of the United States, and states such as Colorado or Utah 

 cannot be considered southern states. "Tiger" is not appropriate since 

 it duplicates the scientific name. Therefore, it is suggested that it be 

 called the "Sonoran tent caterpillar" since it occurs on oaks which are 

 found in the Upper Sonoran life zone of Merriam (1898), and since 

 "Sonoran" also suggests parts of Mexico where it also occurs. 



