CLASSIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF COMMON INSECTS 20$ 



MONOCTENIIDiE 



Spring Canker Worm {Palccacrita vcrnata Peck.). — A widely distrib- 

 uted insect from Canada to Texas, and from Maine to Kansas 

 and California. 



Adults. — ^Male moth with thin brownish-grey silky wings, i inch 

 expanse; fore wings with a row of light markings near outer margin and 

 three transverse dark irregular bands; female moth wingless, 3:3 inch 

 long, dull grey or brown with a dark brown stripe down the middle of 

 the back. April-May. 



Eggs. — Yellowish-green, oval, 1.^5 inch long; laid in irregular masses 

 of about 50 under loose bark, in crevices. Hatch in a month about 

 the time of unfolding of the leaves. 



Larva. — Slender, cylindrical, i inch long, with only two pairs of pro- 

 legs, with narrow longitudinal yellow-white lines, and a yellow stig- 

 matal stripe along each side; ventral surface white. Mature in 4 to 5 

 weeks, when it drops to ground by a silk thread and enters to a depth 

 of 2 to 5 inches. 



Pupa. — Cocoon an earthen cell lined with silk; pupa remains in it 

 until following spring; light brown and pitted. Male pupa spined. 



Parasites, Etc. — Hymenoptera, Diptera and birds. 



Fall Canker Worm (Alsophila pometaria Harris). — Widely distrib- 

 buted^ — -Eastern Canada, New England, New York, Ohio, California. 



Adults. — Male moth with darker, stronger wings than that of the 

 spring Canker Worm; fore wings crossed with two light bands; hind 

 wings darker. Female moth wingless, ashy-grey, no markings, an- 

 tennae long. October-November. 



Eggs. — Brownish-grey, flower-pot like, outer end with a dark spot 

 surrounded by a dark ring; laid in clusters of 100, in rows, each egg 

 fastened on end and to the bark. Hatch in May, about the time of 

 unfolding of the leaves. 



Larva. — -Resembles in a general way that of the Spring Canker 

 Worm, but has a broad dark stripe along the back and three pairs of 

 prolegs near hind end of body. When disturbed or full grown it 

 drops to the ground by a silken thread. It forms a cocoon in the 

 ground. Matures in 4 to 5 weeks. 



Pupa. — Cocoon tough and contains more silk than that of Spring 

 Canker Worm; pupa stouter and spine of male pupa forked. 



