228 • PALMER WORM — ITS PUPA. 



less distinct, and along the middle of the back is a slender dusky stripe between 

 the whitish ones. A transverse line of a clearer white color occupies the hind 

 edge of each segment. Several small black dots symmetrically arranged and 

 each one yielding a fine hair, may be perceived, whereof two above near the 

 hind edge of each segment are the most conspicuous. The head is polished and 

 of the yellow color of bees-wax. The neck or second segment is of the same 

 color, and has above on each side of the middle a black stripe which curves 

 inwards at its hind end, sometimes forming a hook, and outside of this are two 

 black oblong dots, the lower one smaller. 



It appears to be the ordinary habit of these worms to remain 

 upon the trees and change to pupa? in the same tuft of leaves in 

 which the larva? have resided, the worm retiring into a plait or 

 fold of a particular leaf and spinning a slight web of fine silken 

 threads over itself, of so thin a texture that it may be seen 

 through this web. But when they are numerous, multitudes of 

 the worms live openly exposed upon the leaves, and the foliage 

 is so totally destroyed on many trees that it can furnish no safe 

 retreats in which they can conceal themselves when they are 

 ready to change to pupa?. In such cases, as I infer from the 

 habits of the worm when bred in cages, they secrete themselves 

 under dry leaves on the surface of the ground, in crevices of the 

 bark and similar situations, spinning a slight web over them- 

 selves. As they remain in the pupa state only a short time they 

 require no regular cocoon or other substantial fabric for their 

 protection. 



The pupa is at first of a pale tawny yellow color with the head 

 and sheaths of the wings and legs lighter yellow, 

 and is about a quarter of an inch long. It gradu- 

 ally changes to a darker color, and in about ten or twelve days 

 after the worm ceases feeding and shuts itself up within its web 

 the perfect insect is disclosed. In different years the moths 

 which I have bred have mostly come out of their pupse state 

 upon the eighth of July; and on one occasion, passing on this 

 day under a large white oak tree which had been entirely 

 stripped of its leaves by these insects, at every step among the 

 weeds and grass a swarm of the moths would arise and flit a yard 

 or two aside and alight again, this fact showing that they were 

 mostly hatched at this date or earlier. The moths are of a gray 

 color and three-eighths of an inch long, and rest with their long 

 narrow wings folded together and laid flat upon their backs, the 



