418 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



Enlarged four times. (Original) 



similar minute black specks. 'I he eyes are black. Tbe body averages 



7 inch in length and the wing expanse is about 2 inches. The eggs are 



greenish, shiny amber or pinkish-brown, 

 nearly globular. The diameter is about 

 35 inch. They are laid singly or in 

 small, loose clusters of two or more. The 

 full-grown caterpillar is light green and 

 yellow with often a decided pinkish 

 color. There are alternating longitudinal 

 stripes of yellow and green on the sides 

 and back and many black markings over 

 the body. There are also tine black lines 

 on the back and a distinct larger black 

 line on each side. There are occasionally 

 black spots on the legs, at the posterior 

 end of the body and on the head. Fig. 

 425 shows the general appearance. The 

 length varies from li to If inches. The 

 larva spins a web in a fold of a leaf or 



between two or more leaves, which it fastens securely together. In this 



web it rests during the day and retreats to it if disturbed. In the web 



also, which is later rein- 

 forced to form a thin 



white cocoon, pupation 



takes place. The pupa 



is Srst almost white.- but 



t h e developing w i n g 



pads soon turn to a 



beautiful chestnut 



brown and there may 



also appear a few dark 



spots near the posterior 



end. The eyes are also 



brown, or nearly black. 



The average length of 



the pupa is '■'{ inch. 

 Life History. — The 



winter is passed in the 



young 1 a r v a 1, adult 



and t h e e g g stage. 



The larva? appear in the 



spring and the first 



brood matures by sum- 

 mer. The last brood 



matures in late Septem- 

 ber and in October and 



the adults begin egg- 



laying during the latter 



month. The larva 1 are 



peculiar, in that they 



spin a web in which they rest during the day and leave to feed during 



the night, though they also may be found feeding on dull cloudy days. 



Fig. 425. — Larvae of the omnivorous looper, 8abulod.es 

 caberata Guen. Enlarged twice. (Original) 



