INSECTS ATTACKING SHADE-TREES. 103 



completely stripped of every leaf; and what is most to be feared (as 

 has been reported in other States) is, that as their numbers become so 

 rgreat that, having devoured the leaves on the maples, they will begin 

 Aipon our orchards and other varieties of trees. 



In 1874 the ravages of the pest were more extended, and in 

 1875, according to Professor Snow (Second Quarterly Report for 

 1883, State Board of Agriculture), nearly every maple in the city 

 of Lawrence was entirely deprived of its foliage by the second 

 brood of caterpillars, before the end of August. Continuing, 

 Professor Snow says : 



This same condition of affairs existed in nearly every town of east- 

 ern Kansas. It was hoped that after a year or two this insect, as is the 

 habit of the species in the Eastern States, would disappear from notice. 

 But it has continued its depredations for 11 continuous seasons with 

 varying pertinacity, but in every year to such an extent as to produce 

 <complete defoliation of the maples in many localities. 



Professor Snow noted the following birds feeding upon the 

 -worms: Robin, blue-bird, tufted titmouse, yellow-billed cuckoo, 

 red-headed woodpecker, red-eyed vireo, and crow black-bird. 



BAG-^WORM. 



{Thyridopteryx ephemerceformis Haworth; Order, Lepidoptera.) 



Diagnosis. — Attacking evergreen trees; caterpillars inclosed 

 an cases or bags, with head and front body with six legs project- 

 ing; feeding on various trees, especially evergreens. The cases 

 .-are silken, and covered with bits of leaves or twigs or pine nee- 

 «dles. In winter the cases, bags or baskets hang in the trees and 

 contain eggs. 



Attacking, also, various deciduous trees, as the elm, maple, lo- 

 cust, apple, pear, plum, cherry, peach, and quince. 



Description and Life-history. — The adult insect is a moth, the 

 female wingless, the male with four transparent wings, body black. 

 The larvre hatch in May and June, from eggs which have passed 

 the winter in hanging cases. The young larv?e immediately make 

 coverings of silk, the bags, for themselves, which they enlarge as 

 their bodies grow. The silken cases are covered without with bits 

 <of leaves or twigs, rendering them hard to distinguish from the 



