29 



months, growing rap'ullv until iully grown, when they are dis- 

 agreeable looking, greenish yellow worms about two inches long. 

 When at rest they usually curl themselves as at e. figure 19, If 

 molested they can throw jets of licjuid from openings along the 

 sides, so that all in ail they are unpleasant insects. When they 

 have reached their full growth and development they leave the tree 

 on which they have been feeding and descend to the ground, 

 where they conceal themselves beneath any rubbish that is at 

 hand. Having thus hidden themselves, each forms a tough co- 

 coon, figure lU /"., in whicli it remains during the fall and win- 

 ter, completing its transformation the following spring. " The 

 fly which comes from the cocoon is somewhat like a bee as it 

 buzzes about. It is about an inch long, with wings two inches 

 across when extended. The males and females are not pre- 

 cisely alike, for aside from the saw and ovipositor which the fe- 

 male possesses, she is stouter and the body bears several yellow 

 spots on eacli side, while that of the male is of a nearly uniform 

 bluish color, and he is somewhat larger than his mate. 



The size and voracity of this insect make it a formidable enemy 

 whenever it appears in large numbers, which is sometimes the 

 case. Usually, at least this is true in Vermont, it does not seem 

 to increase very rapidly and does no great damage. The currant 

 worm, one of them, JVemaius., is allied to the above, though a 

 smaller species. It is, however, an insect which has defoliated large 

 numbers of trees elsewhere, and may at any time need attention 

 here. Any of the remedies suggested for leaf-eating insects, such 

 as spraying with kerosene emulsion, Paris green or London purple 

 and water, would l)e in all probability sufficient safeguards against 

 this insect. Also, taking advantage of the habits of the insect, it 

 would be well to remove leaves and other debris which might be 

 underneath the trees infested after the larvjc had hidden themselves 

 for the winter, or swine turned out so that they had free access to 

 the trees; or even poultry would destroy many. 



im(;p:()n 'rKi;Mi<:x, mokntail. 



7)-c/nc\ colitiiiba^ L. 



This is an allied insect, though quite diHerent in a|)pearance 

 from the foregoing. It is larger, anti more wasp-like; within the 

 female a spine projecting from the end of the abdomen. The 

 general colors of the female are black and reddish brown, with 



