330 



THE GYPSY MOTH. 



The average per cent, of the number under the burlap did 

 not vary much from sixty-six. The number found elsewhere 

 on the trunk and on the leaves of the tree together did not 

 constitute three per cent, of the whole. 



In the early morning, before the rays of the sun struck 

 the burlap, the caterpillars were found under it on all sides 

 of the tree, but as the sun rose higher, the greater part 

 of them were on the west and northern sides, away from 

 the heat and light. As the sun went from east to west they 

 moved around the tree, keeping on the shady side. This 

 was true of the larger portion of the caterpillars, but in 

 some instances they have been found at mid-day resting 

 under the direct rays of the sun, with no covering whatever. 

 The caterpillars that were on the larger branches of the tree, 

 where the sun did not strike them, remained in the same 

 position all day unless disturbed, while those on the smaller 

 branches moved around, keeping on the shady side nearly 

 all the time. 



Spinning Habits of Caterpillars. 

 The amount of silk a gypsy moth caterpillar is capable 

 of spinning has an important bearing on the distribution ot 

 these insects, since it is known that by spinning down upon 

 passing teams, etc., the caterpillars are carried from place to 

 place. The more silk a caterpillar is capable of spinning, 



* Base of tree. 



•{• Not counted in the results, as they were pupating. 



