240 LEPIDOPTERA 



before it is fully expanded. A single nest may serve to 

 defoliate an entire tree of ordinary size. The method of 

 destroying them will be a little different from that of the 

 fall web worm on account of the habit of scattering oxgv the 

 tree. To kill the entire colony it is necessary to take the 

 time they are all in the nest, when they can be destroyed 

 as easily as the fall web worm. The best way is to destroy 

 the egg masses. The egg masses are conspicuous enough to 

 be readily seen and by destroying them the injury for the 

 following season can be prevented. They are readily con- 

 trolled in this manner. When foliage is on the tree the 

 egg masses are not so readily seen. A little attention for 

 a year or two will practically rid an orchard of these pests. 

 They are heavy^bodied and although winged, do not travel 

 far. The moths are a dark gray or slightly rusty brown 

 and are much like a number of other moths. Two light bands 

 extend across the wing a little obliquely to the axis of the 

 wing. These are bordered by a slightly darker stripe. 



The forest tent caterpillar is very similar in the appearance 

 of the larvse and in the building of the tent but differ in the 

 egg masses. The eggs stand straight out; and this species 

 is not so important as the tent caterpillar. 



The Cecropia moth, Luna and American silk worm are also 

 quite prominent, but are not as ini])ortant economically 

 as the preceding species. All are silk-making forms, but 

 their silk production does nc^t compare' with that of the 

 Chinese worm. The silk worm is the most important insect 

 considered from a stand-point of producing an important 

 product — the honey bee is the only other of great impor- 

 tance. The silk industry will perhaps come into greater 

 prominence in this country if labor is cheaper or there is a 

 larger class of unemployed, as it requires a great deal of 

 attention but no great skill of labor. Too much time and 

 trouble are necessary to rear silk worms profitably in a greater 

 part of the United States. In France, Italy, China, and 

 Japan it is a very large industry. 



This finishes what are known as the moths proper — the 

 Lepidoptera which liave antennae without any knob at the 

 end and which are almost all night-flying. 



