INSECT PESTS OF OHIO SHADE A1>/D FOREST TREES 249 



during the season of 1917 and a greater loss, approximating 75 

 percent, during the season of 1916. No cases of complete defoliation 

 were observed. 



Distribution. — This insect occasionally is taken in the New 

 England States but occurs in greatest abundance southward and 

 east of the Great Plains States. An outbreak of notable severity 

 was recorded from two counties in Arkansas (21) (1879) , in which 

 oaks suffered particularly; another in Texas (23) (1908) to post 

 oaks in particular and still other attacks of considerable .severity in 

 Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, Ohio, Virginia and neighboring 

 states. 



Natural enemies. — Hooker (23) reports Calosoma scrutator 

 abundant and C calidum occasionally present in the Texas out- 

 break. 



Control. — Comstock (21) suggests the burning over of the for- 

 est floor at the time the caterpillars are dropping from the trees 

 and entering the leaves, but under Ohio conditions this procedure 

 seems inadvisable; first, because of the actual damage in loss of 

 mulch, burning of trees and destruction of young growth, and, 

 second, because of the danger of spreading fire. Spraying with 

 poisons might be resorted to under exceptional conditions but rarely 

 is it practicable to adopt such measures. 



THE YELLOW-STEIPED OAK CATERPILLAR 



(Anisota senatoria Abb. & Sm.) 



During the last decade or more, yellow-striped oak caterpillars 

 have been noted, particularly in the southern part of Ohio, but only 

 during the last 2 years have widespread outbreaks occurred and 

 has severe damage been inflicted. 



Description. — The catei-pillar is also known as the rosy-striped 

 oak worm, it having been given its popular name because of the 

 eight rosy or yellow lines extending lengthwise of the body on the 

 back and sides. A single row of large yellow spots is found just 

 beneath th„ last lateral yellow line and a single yellow line extends 

 the greater part of the body length down the center of the under- 

 side. The general ground color of the body is black as is also the 

 head and appendages. The body is abundantly clothed with short, 

 sharp spines, and extending upward from the second thoracic seg- 

 ment are two black, truncate appendages, about three-eighths of an 

 inch long. The full-grown caterpillar measures about 2 inches in 

 length. (See Plate XXXVII, Fig. 2.) The tpupa is a dark brown, 

 rough, spined object about 1% inches long and is found in an 

 earthen cell 3 or 4 inches deep in the soil. 



