256 



APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY 



Family Lasiocampidae (The Lasiocampids) . — This small family- 

 includes several species which are common and at times quite important 

 pests. The moths are of only medium size, with rather stout bodies, 

 antennae fringed on one side (pectinate) and with a large shoulder at 

 the base of the hind wing, instead of a frenulum. The larvae feed on 

 the leaves of trees. 



The Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar {Malacosoma americana Fab.). — 

 This native insect is at times a pest for several years in succession, after 

 which it practically disappears for some time. It is found ahnost every- 

 where from Canada to Florida and west to the Rocky Mountains. From 



there to the Sierra Nevada Moun- 

 ri^.i.^its'.MmyW tains another species having 



similar habits occurs, while on 

 the Pacific Slope several others 

 are present. 



The adult moth (Fig. 257) is 

 rather stout, with a reddish- 

 brown body and wings, the front 



Fig. 257. Fig. 258. 



Fig. 257. — Adult Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar (Malacosoma americana Fab.), about 

 natural size. (From Sanderson, Insects Injurious to Farm, Garden and Orchard; after Lowe.) 



Fig. 258. — Egg belt of the Apple-tree Tent-caterpillar, encircling a twig. Natural 

 size. {From Britton, Thirteenth Rept. Ent. Conn. Ag-^. Exp. Sta. 1913.) 



pair of which have two whitish lines crossing them. The male spreads 

 about an inch and a quarter and the female about half an inch more. 

 They fly at night and do not feed as adults. The wild cherry and apple 

 appear to be the preferred food plants of the caterpillar, but other fruit 

 and shade-trees are sometimes fed upon. 



The moths appear during the early part of the summer and lay their 

 eggs (Fig. 258), 200 or 300 in number, in belts around small twigs, one 

 belt probably being all that is laid by one insect. These belts more 

 or less completely surround the twig, and after depositing a belt, the 

 insect covers the eggs with a layer of a brown, sticky substance, beveled 



