258 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



of the body. They are hatched from eggs, which are laid in 

 clusters of twenty or more together on the lower sides of the 

 leaves of the grape-vine and creeper ; and they come to their 

 growth from the middle to the end of August. They then 

 measure six tenths or rather more than one half of an inch in 

 length. Their feet are sixteen in number, and rather short, 

 and their motions are sluggish. When touched, they curl their 

 bodies sidewise and fall to the ground, or, more rarely, hang 

 suspended from the leaves by a silken thread. When young 

 they eat only portions of the surface of the leaf; but, as they 

 grow older they devour all but the stalk and principal veins, 

 and passing from leaf to leaf, thus strip whole branches of 

 their foliage. When numerous, they do much damage to the 

 vines and fruit, by stripping off the leaves in midsummer, 

 when most needed. I have found them in Massachusetts on 

 the grape-vine and on the common creeper, or Ampelopsis 

 quinquefolia, and conjecture that the latter constitutes their 

 natural food. About the year 1830, Professor Hentz found 

 them in swarms upon cultivated grape-vines at Chapel-Hill, in 

 North Carolina ; and constant care was required to check their 

 ravages there, during several successive years. Several broods 

 appeared there in the course of the summer ; but hitherto, only 

 one annual brood has been observed in Massachusetts, although 

 two or more broods may occasionally be produced. When, 

 about to make their cocoons, the caterpillars leave the vines, 

 and retire to some sheltered spot. They then enclose them- 

 selves, each in a very thin but tough oblong oval cocoon, and 

 soon afterwards are transformed to shining brown chrysalids. 

 Early in July, and in the middle of the day, I have seen the 

 moths flying about grape-vines and creepers, at which time, 

 also, they pair and lay their eggs. A more full account of this 

 insect, illustrated by figures, will be found in Hovey's " Maga- 

 zine," for June, 1844. 



