ORDER IV.—MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. 
169 
(Fig. 43) is quite handsome, and is seen during the summer, 
Figure 42. 

The Rusty Vapor Moth. 
ple-trees. 
Wax. 
generally on rose-bushes or on ap- 
Its slender body, about 
one inch long, is covered with long, 
fine, yellow hairs, and is orna- 
mented at each extremity with 
two brush-like, yellowish tufts, 
while its head is as red as sealing- 
The motions of these cater- 
pillars are very slow, and they eat but very little; but if 
they are numerous on apple-trees, they injure them by spin- 
ning their cocoons upon 
the leaves, fastening 
their eggs upon them, 
and so destroying the 
vitality of the tree. 
Great caution should 
be used in handling these 
caterpillars, as its hairs 
sting like nettles. When 
full grown they spin 
their tender cocoons 
upon a leaf, from which 
the perfect moth issues 
in less than two weeks. 
The female moth, how- 
ever, is wingless, and 
deposits her eggs upon 
her own empty cocoon, 
which she then covers 
with a white fluid sub- 
stance, which, when 
dry, becomes scaly and 
brittle. | 
Figure 43. 

VA 
LM A 
k AN Wa i 
A ee / 

Caterpillar of Rusty Vapor Moth. 
H 
