October, '17] DUNN: cocoanut-tree caterpillar 475 



General Description 



Egg. — The eggs are somewhat spheroidal in shape, or slightly flattened on two 

 sides. They are about one millimeter in diameter, and average in weight about 1.4 

 milligrams each. When newly deposited they are white with a yellowish tint. 



Larva or Caterpillar. — The newly hatched caterpillar is red in color, the shade 

 becoming reddish brown over the head. The body is only about half the diameter 

 of the head. If examined with a lens they may be seen to have three narrow light 

 colored stripes extending from the head to the posterior segment. The young 

 caterpillars are about 4 millimeters in length and 0.5 millimeter in diameter. The 

 diameter of the head is approximately one millimeter. The average weight about 

 two hours from time of emergence from the egg is one milhgram. When full grown 

 the caterpillars range from 7 to 10 centimeters in length, and 10 to 12 miUimeters in 

 diameter. The weight, when mature, varies from 2 J to 4 grams. The head is quite 

 large and prominent and is hard and shiny, the color being from red to dark brown. 

 The apex and center of the head being lighter in color than the cheeks. It is some- 

 what longer than wide, being about 7 to 9 millimeters long and from 5 to 7 milli- 

 meters wide. The body tapers slightly to both ends and has a ground color of dark 

 brown, ornamented with three yellow longitudinal stripes running the full length 

 of the body, one stripe on the dorsal surface and one on each lateral surface. The 

 stripe on the dorsal surface is about 4 millimeters wide, with light colored outer 

 edges, and the center having minute lighter colored spots, giving the center of the 

 stripe a slightly freckled appearance. Each stripe on the lateral surfaces has two 

 thin intermediate dark colored stripes running the full length and the outer portion 

 of the stripe having the freckled appearance as the one on the dorsal surface. Each 

 of the segments are ringed with thin light colored markings which can be noticed 

 upon close examination. A number of fine short brown hairs are scattered over the 

 body as well as many longer white ones. The dorsal surface of the caterpillars vary 

 in color from light red to dark brown (according to the age) and the red color changes 

 to brown when nearing the pupal period. 



Pupa or Chrysalis. — The chrysalis during the first few days of pupation varies 

 in color from light gray to a faint purple, with many darker markings of dark 

 brown on the head and wing covers. The abdomen is rounded dorsally and pointed 

 at the posterior end, and has one regular stripe varying from light blue to brown 

 running the fuU length of the chrysalis from the head to the end of the abdomen, 

 with a faint blue irregular stripe on each side. Four dark brown stripes on the 

 ventral side extend from the wing covers to the end of the abdomen. The seg- 

 ments near the base of the wing covers are somewhat telescopic in character and 

 allow a considerable amount of motion. The chrysalis is smooth and somewhat 

 shiny and is from 2| to 85 centimeters in length, and from 10 to 15 millimeters in 

 diameter, and averages in weight from 2| to 3j grams. The female chrysalids are 

 somewhat larger than the males. 



Imago or Butterfly. — The butterfly is dark brown in color on the dorsal surfaces 

 of wings, thorax, and abdomen; all ventral surfaces being several shades lighter. A 

 pale brownish yellow patch, one centimeter wide, extends across the fore wings from 

 the costal margin to within a very short distance from the anal margin. This patch 

 has a small angular spot of dark brown extending into it from the costal border. 

 The ventral surfaces of the fore wings have the same yellow patch that is seen on the 

 dorsal surface, and also has a narrow convoluted line, with dark edges, extending 

 along the lateral margin of the wings. The ventral surface of the hind wing has 

 three small round spots, arranged at nearly right angles, several shades lighter than 



