132 



INSECTS AFFECTING SHADE TREES. 



the tips of the same is an eye-like black spot within* 

 a bluish-white crescent. The upper sides of the- 

 body and the legs are reddish ; the fore part of the 



Fig. 63. Cocoon of Cecropia Moth. 



thorax, and the hinder edges of the rings of the ab- 

 domen are white; the under surface of the body is- 

 checkered with red and white. 



The moths come forth from the cocoons in June 



and deposit their eggs on 

 the various kinds of trees 

 upon which the larvae live. 

 About a week later the 

 Fig. 64. cecropia Pupa. eggs hatch into small, 



spiny caterpillars, that devour the foliage and rapidly 

 increase in size. They are very voracious, and reach 

 maturity late in summer. They are then (Fig. 62), 

 often over three inches long, as thick as a man's 

 thumb, and have, along the back, rows of large, coral- 

 red tubercles. Early in autumn they spin their 

 silken cocoons, within which they change to dark 

 brown pupse (Fig. 64), remaining in this condition 

 until the following summer, when they come forth 

 as moths to lay eggs for another brood. 



