INSECT PESTS OF OHIO SHADE AND FOREST TREES 251 



New Jersey and other states. Usually forest trees are the greatest 

 sufferers, although trees in parks, cemeteries, streets and lawns 

 occasionally are severely injured. 



Natui'al enemies. — The caterpillars are unusually tough- 

 skinned, and this, together with the fact that the spines adorning 

 the body are highly operative, renders them partly immune from 

 the more common natural enemies. However, Doctor Felt reports 

 that Prof. A. J. Cook recorded the robin and bluejay as feeding 

 on the larvae. He also reports a Hymenopterous parasite, Limneria 

 fugitiva Say, as having been reared from this insect and a young 

 soldier bug, Podisits placidus Uhl., as feeding on the eggs. 



Control. — When artificial control becomes necessary either of 

 two methods may be employed. If the tree is small and but one or 

 two branches are attacked, the insects may be collected by hand 

 and destroyed. For larger trees over extended areas, spraying with 

 the usual arsenicals is advisable. 



THE BEOWN ANISOTA 



(AnisotM virginiensis Drury) 



Description. — The larva of this species is a beautiful rich, 

 brown-colored caterpillar, the general color being broken by tiny 

 pale yellow raised dots of assorted sizes. The body is further 

 ornamented with numerous, but methodically arranged sharp black 

 spines, the larger and more conspicuous ones being arranged in two 

 rows down the back. On the back of the second body segment are 

 two curved black horns about one-third of an inch in length and 

 having the ends slightly knobbed. At the base, these horns as well 

 as some of the spines, are adorned with tiny, raised, hght-yellow 

 dots. (See Plate XXXVH, Fig. 3.) The adult is a beautiful brown, 

 heavy-bodied moth with a conspicuous white spot about twice the 

 size of a large pin head on each fore wing. The female measures 

 about 11/2 inches across her expanded wings and the male is con- 

 siderably smaller. 



Life history and habits. — The writer has observed the brown 

 anisota in greatest numbers in late September. In was then in the 

 full-grown larval stage. The larvae feed singly. 



Nature of work. — This insect is not a serious depredator in 

 Ohio, at least it has never been reported to the Ohio Station or 

 observed by the writer as occuring in plentiful numbers. The 

 caterpillars are strong feeders and should they occur in abundance 

 are capable of considerable injury. 



Food plants. — The writer has obsei'ved this species most fre- 

 quently on hazelnut. He has also taken it upon chestnut, Quercus 

 Tninor, Q. alba and Q. prinus. 



