APPLE INSECTS — BUDS AND FOLIAGE 



115 



are placed close together the 

 two colonies unite in forming 

 a common nest. The n(^st is 

 at first small, but gradually 

 enlarges as the cateri)illars 

 grow larger, until in sonic 

 cases it may be nearly two 

 feet in length. 



During storms and the heat 

 of the day the caterpillars 

 usually remain within the 

 nest, coming out to feed 

 early in the morning, in the 



Mr- 



\ 



Fig. 12G. — Male moths of the apple- 

 tree tent-caterpillar. 



Fig. IL'."). — - Pupse of the apple-tree 

 tent-caterpillar (x 3). 



evening, or at night when it 

 is not too cold. The full- 

 grown caterpillar is about two 

 inches long, black with a light 

 stripe down the back and with 

 dots of blue and white along 

 the sides, and is clothed wdth 

 fine, soft, yellowish hairs (Fig. 

 123). When nearly full-grown 

 they wander from the nest, and 

 after feeding for a few days 

 more crawl to some protected 

 place and spin their cocoons. 



The oval, w^hite cocoons are 

 about one inch in length (Fig. 

 124) . They are made of tough, 

 closely woven, white silk, and 

 are held in place by a few 

 irregular coarser threads. The 



