APPLE-TREE CATERPILLAR VARIETIES OF THE MOTH. 197 



white, particularly in the males. The wings when spread measure from 1.20 

 to 1.30 in the males, and in the females from 1.40 to two inches. 

 The following varieties may be noticed. 



I. In the males. 



a. The space between the bands on the fore wings pale gray. Common. 

 6. The bands undulated near their outer ends. 



c. The basal outer half of the hind wings whitish. 



d. The hind wings with a whitish band across their middle. 



e. The whitish band on the under side of the fore wings wanting. 



/. The whitish band on the under side of both wings obsolete or wanting. 



II. In the females. 



g. The bands on the fore wings unusually distant, the middle space of the 



wing wider than the hind space. 

 k. The bands unusually near each other, the space between them more than 



four times as long as wide. 

 i. The bands perceptibly diverging from the middle of the wing to its outer 



margin. 

 j. The bands slightly diverging through their whole length from the inner to 



the outer margin. 

 These moths are most numerous about the end of the first week 

 in July. They pair and the females deposit their eggs within a 

 day or two after they come from their cocoons. Thus the belts of 

 eggs begin to be seen upon the twigs of the apple trees as early as 

 the first of July. Like other insects of this group, these moths 

 frequently enter the open windows of our dwellings in the even- 

 ing, attracted by the lights. A dozen will sometimes come in 

 thus, in an hour or two of a sultry dark night. It is readily 

 known from other species at such times, by its motions. Dazzled 

 and bewildered by the light, it darts crazily about, here and there, 

 thumping against the table, the wall and the floor, and instantly 

 rebounding it circles around the candle with Jehu-like velocity, 

 till it blurts through the flame, nearly extinguishing it and 

 singeing its horns and wings, when it is glad to withdraw to 

 some obscure corner and there remain at rest. 



This moth inhabits all parts of the United States. Persons 

 who have removed from New-York to Illinois and Wisconsin 

 inform me that they have these caterpillars in their orchards 

 there, but that they are by no means so common. as here at the 

 east. Abbot remarks that in Virginia whole orchards are strip- 

 ped of their leaves by them, but that in Georgia it is not very 

 common. From the specimens of the moths which have been 

 sent me from Mississippi and from the Indian territory west of 



