86 INJURIOUS INSECTS OF KANSAS. 



a number of short, irregular, longitudinal, yellow lines. On the 

 sides are paler lines, with spots and streaks of pale blue. The 

 under side of the body is nearly black." The "tents" are irreg- 

 ular in form, and have openings in the angles which serve as en- 

 trance and exit wa3's for the caterpillars. " It is estimated that 

 each larva, when approaching maturity, will consume two leaves 

 in a day ; so that every day that a ne^ of such marauders is per- 

 mitted to remain on a tree there is a sacrifice of about 500 leaves" 

 (Saunders). When full-grown and ready to pupate, the larvfe 

 spin yellowish, double-webbed cocoons in protected spots (such as 

 "the angles formed by the projection of the cap boards of fences 

 or fence posts "), and change to brown chrysalids. The following 

 May the moths emerge. 



Remedies. — As the caterpillars are all in the tents at night and 

 rarely go out to feed before 9 a. m. (Saunders), they may be easily 

 destroyed. Cut off the web-infested branches with the inclosed 

 caterpillars, and burn or crush the tent and contents, or crush 

 with gloved hands without cutting off the branch. Several para- 

 sitic ichneumon flies do much toM'ard keeping the pest in check. 



Kaums Note.?. — In the Transactions Kansas State Horticultu- 

 ral Society for 1873, the Tent Caterpillar is mentioned as a com- 

 mon orchard pest. In the report of the committee on entomology, 

 Transactions State Horticultural Society for 1874, Mr, G. C. 

 Brackett says (p. 192) : "This worm, Apple-tree Tent Caterpillar, 

 so familiar to every orchardist, has been less numerous, either 

 among trees in the orchards and fruit-trees, or among forest trees, 

 than during many seasons previous." In the same Transactions, 

 Mr. G. Y. Johnson, speaking for the eastern half of Douglas 

 county, says ( p. 208) : " The Tent Caterpillar has entirely disap- 

 peared from this locality," which may be traced most directly to 

 the agency of the ichneumon fly. 



Since 1874, rare mention is made of this pest in horticultural 

 reports, and the parasites have undoubtedly succeeded in keeping 

 it in check. 



