TENT CATERPILLAR 



237 



appear rather early in the autumn, depositinji; masses of 

 eggs in eircles around the twigs, usually eompletely encircling 

 the twig. The eggs are glued together very firmly with a 

 varnish-like substance that covers and protects them for 

 the winter season. The largest part of the time is spent in 

 the egg stage, that is, through autumn and winter and 



Fig. 182.— Webs of fall wel) \v..rin ( H ij phantria cunca) (,ii defoliated 

 walnut tree. (Photo by author.) 



through early spring. The eggs hatch quite early, about 

 the time the foliage expands or a little in advance of the 

 foliage, and the larvjie construct a nest generally in a crotch 

 of a rather fair-sized branch — perhaps an inch and a half 

 in diameter. The web fits into the crotch and extends out 

 beyond it. The web is not much increased after first formed. 

 The lar\'te scatter when feeding on the lea\'es and retire to 



