56 



THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



28. The Spotted Tussock Moth, Halisidota maculata, Harr. also has been frequently found 

 on basswood at Ottawa. The caterpillar is larger, and (juite different from the preceding 

 species, the body being black, covered with tufts of bright yellow and black hairs, the black 

 tufts being on the four anterior and three posterior segments, and the yellow tufts on the 

 remaining segments. The latter are centred down the middle of the back with a row of black 

 tufts. 



2©. The Hickory Tussock Moth, Halisidota caryrr, Harr. Caterpillars of this species h^ve 

 been found feeding on linden in July, August and early September. This- larva has a black 

 head and the body is clothed with dense tufts of white hairs, with a ridge of black hairs down 

 the cenfre of the bick, and two pairs of long black pencils on the first and seventh abdominal 

 segments. 



This and the above two species of Halisidota larvae become mature in the fall of the year 

 and spin oblong-oval cocoons, composed of the hairs from the body interwoven with some silk. 

 The moths appear the following June. 



30. Schizura ipomoem, Dbl . Specimens of the larva of this interesting notodontian 

 were rather common at Meech Lake, Que. the past season. On the 15th August Mr. C. H. 

 Young and the writer collected a number of examples by beating the foliage of basswood ; by 

 the 22nd Sept. the specimens were full grown. 



31. The Gypsy Moth, Porlhetria dispar, L. In the State of Massachusetts this insect has 

 been the cau-se of widespread destruction, and the most extensive experiments ever attempted 

 in the science of applied entomology, amounting in cost to millions of dollars, have been care- 

 fully conducted by such eminent entomologists as Fernald, Forbush, and Kirklaiid The cater- 

 pillar of this European insect has a wide range of food plants, among which is the basswoo''. 

 Forturately the insect does not occur in Canada, it being confined to Massachusetts, and por- 

 tions of adjoining States. In an interesting paper by Mr. Kirkland entitled " The Shade-tree 

 Insect Problem," 1901, the following paragraph on the life history of the Gypsy Moth appears : 

 " The parent moth lays its eggs to the number of five hundred to one thousand, in a yellow, 

 hairy covered mass, on tree trunks, fences, buildings, walls, etc. The eggs hatch early the fol- 

 lowing May, and the caterpillars swarm abroad in search of food. They devour both buds and 

 l eaves, a nd sometimes even attack the tender bark of the twigs. As soon as the foliage 

 develops thej give it their undivided attention, feeding chiefly by day. When about one-third 

 grown their feeding habits change, and the insects seek shelter by day and feed almost entirely 

 by night. The full grown caterpillar is sparingly covered with stout haii s, and has a double 

 row of tubercles along the back. On the five anterior segments these tubercles are blue ; on 

 the six posterior, dark red. The caterpillars pupate in masses in any convenient sheltered 

 locality, particularly at the bases of large branches, and in about a fortnight the moths emerge. " 



32. The Snow-white Linden Moth, Ennomos subsig- 

 Inariiis, Hbn. (Fig. 16). The caterpillar of this geometrid 

 j moth has been recorded by different writers as destructive 

 [to the linden. Packard, in his Insects hijurions to Forest 

 tnd Shade Trees, treats ^^, it under the name of the Elm 

 Span worm. Full grown, or nearly so, larvre have been 

 I frequently collected at Ottawa from basswood. When nia- 

 rure they are over an inch in length, of a brown colour, 

 with a large head which is red, as is also the posterior scg- 

 'ment of the body. The caterpillar reaches maturity i 

 Fig- 10 Snow-white Linden Moth. June, and the moths appear during July and early August 



