THE RED AND BLACK TIGER CATERPILLAR. 



Every boy must be familiar with the red and black hairy- 

 caterpillar represented in Fig. 18. 

 It is one of the commonest insects 

 in spring and autumn, and is often 

 seen even in winter. 



This insect is so abundant in many 



Fig. 18. — Tiger Caterpillar. _ , . . „ 



regions that it is often spoken of as 

 the caterpillar. People think of it rather than of other kinds 

 when the word caterpillar is mentioned. 



If you pick up two or three of these caterpillars in spring 

 and place them in a covered box, you may readily study their 

 life changes. Give them fresh clover leaves dipped in water 

 every day or two, so that they will have plenty to eat. 



Before very long you are likely to find in place of one of 

 the caterpillars a rough, hairy cocoon. This 

 appears to be made of the cast-off hairs of the 

 caterpillar, fastened in place by silken threads. 

 Inside of this the caterpillar becomes a smooth fig. 19. -uocoon and 

 brown pupa or chrysalis (Fig. 19). 



A week or two after the cocoon was formed the chrysalis 

 splits open and a brown moth emerges, pushing its way 

 through one end of the cocoon. It is of medium size. When 

 its wings expand it resembles Fig. 20. It is yellowish brown 

 with spots on the wings. 



The moths fly about at night. They frequently enter 

 lighted rooms through open windows. They are called the 

 Isabella tiger moths. 



The caterpillars of the Isabella moth feed upon many kinds 

 of plants- But they seldom injure to a serious extent any 



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