74 SECOND REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Others, at about this time, again molted (for the fourth time), and not 

 until after six more days did they commence inclosing themselves in 

 cocoons. When the moths emerged, it was discovered that males were 

 produced from the larvae which had molted but three times, and females 

 from the remainder. 



This prolonged larval period and additional molting in the female is 

 a very interesting scientific fact. Its occurrence in other species, as 

 observed by me, has been noted in my first report (page 98), and it is 

 believed that it will be hereafter discovered to be the rule in many other 

 of the Bomhycid(B. The bearing of this fact upon the mooted question 

 of the comparative degree of development and rank of the sexes is 

 worthy of consideration. 



To summarize the above statement of the successive larval stages — 

 the entire period is from twenty-five to thirty-one days — about a month. 

 It is during this brief period that the voracious appetite, necessitated by 

 rapid growth, causes the ravages upon our trees and shrubs of which we 

 have so great cause to complain. 



Within the shelter of the cocoon, the larval skin is cast off for the 

 last time, and the insect, as early as the latter part of June, enters upon 

 its pupal state. In this condition it quietly reposes for a period of 

 from ten to fifteen days,* when the moth within the pupal shell, having 

 by this time become fully developed in all its organs except in the ex- 

 tension of its wings (in the male), bursts its walls, and emerges to the 

 light of day. The male moth — first observed by me the present sea- 

 son on the 9th of July — crawls to some suitable spot near to the vacated 

 cocoon, when, within a half-hour, his contracted wings, as drawn from 

 their pupal sheathes, attain their full expansion, and he is in readiness 

 for flight. As soon as " evening shades prevail," he seeks his mate, and 

 with the end of his existence attained, a few days serve to end his 

 career. 



The female moth hardly surpasses the " Bag- worm," Thyriodopteryx 

 ephemerceformis, as a traveler, for while that species never emerges from 

 her cocoon, this only works its way outward through the loosely-spun 

 threads, and takes position upon its surface. From a power of attrac- 

 tion possessed by her in an eminent degree, f and shared by many of 



*Cocoons spun on July 5 were found with egg-deposits upon them on July 16. Dr. Fitch 

 records that in several instances he had known the moth to emerge thirteen days after 

 spinning the cocoon. 



+A female imago of this species had emerged August 4, within its breeding-cage, stand- 

 ing in a large apartment about ten feet from an open door. At dark (half-past seven 

 o clock), males commenced to fly into the room, and precipitate themselves against the 

 gauze front of the cage, moving in every direction over its surface, with legs, wings and 

 antennae in rapid motion, in a persistent effort to force an entrance into the cage. Several 



