INSECT PESTS 01*^ OHIO SHADE AND FOREST TREES 247 



Head, prothoracic legs and surface of the body are covered with 

 minute black tubercles and a transverse black line between each 

 segment. (See Plate XXXVI, Fig. 3.) 



Life history and habits. — The eggs are laid in early June on 

 the underside of the leaf in the form of a patch about an inch long, 

 according to Dr. W. E. Britton (19). In Ohio the larvae may be 

 encountered after the fore part of the summer until early fall 

 After first hatching and until they become well developed, they may 

 be found feeding or resting in clusters. Later they become scat- 

 tered and do considerable wandering, finally pupating in any shel- 

 tered place, such as under rubbish, along fences, etc. 



Nature of work. — The only type of injury caused by this species 

 is the destruction of foliage by the larva. In Ohio it is not con- 

 sidered a very serious pest, since it rarely occurs in extensive 

 numbers. It is reported as abundant during certain seasons in 

 other parts of the country and should its numbers increase abnor- 

 mally it is fully capable of much damage. 



Food plants. — Thirty-three trees and shrubs, most of which are 

 common, are recorded by Beutenmuller (20) as hosts to this species. 

 Walnut, butternut and sumac seem the preferred hosts, although 

 elm, ash and linden as well as various fruit trees suffer severely. 



Distribution. — This insect is widely distributed and is particu- 

 larly well known in the eastern and northeastern United States. 



Control. — Spraying with arsenicals may be practiced where 

 justifiable, and in a limited way the pest may be combated by col- 

 lecting the clustered, feeding caterpillars or by destroying them 

 when they are massed on the trunk or limbs of the host. 



THE VARIABLE OAK LEAF CATERPILLAR 



( Heterocampa manteo Dbldy.) 



Only occasionally does the variable oak leaf caterpillar attract 

 attention by reason of severe and widespread depredations. During 

 the three seasons just passed (1916-17-18), however, it has been 

 excessively abundant in southern Ohio and in some sections has 

 done much damage. 



Description. — As the name indicates, the caterpillar is quite 

 variable in appearance. Indeed, caterpillars of this species of the 

 same size are so different in coloration that it is difficult to believe 

 they are the same species. The full-grown larva is about 11/4 inches 

 in length and is very firm and muscular to the touch. A few scat- 

 tering hairs, more or less rigid in nature, are borne by the body. 



The head is beautiful reddish brown with lateral brown or black 

 lines joined at the top to form a horseshoe. These lines are bordered 



