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Early Stages of Orgyia nova, Fitch. 

 By Henry Edwards. 

 The egg mass, differing only in being surrounded by a web of dark- 

 er color than O . leiuostigma was found attached to a species of Pinus at 

 Houghton, Michigan, Oct. 1885. The larvae emerged May 1-8, 1886, 

 VouTig larva. Ground color of the body, dull brown, with the tuber- 

 cular bases of the long hairs, distinctly black, Head rather large, jet 

 black, shining. The second segment, (that immediately adjoining the 

 head) also swollen, with its lateral tubercle, larger than the rest. Across 

 the 3d and 4th segments is a dull pale streak, and a narrower one also 

 across the 8th segment. The hairs are spread out widely at the sides and 

 posteriorly, and are nearly as long as the body of the larva. Under side 

 mouse color, with the feet black, shining. Before shedding its first skin, 

 the small tubercle at the base of the 2d segment becomes indistinctly coral 

 red. This color does not appear until just before the shedding of the 

 skin. There is also some variation in the ground color; some specimens 

 becoming sordid white, with all intermediate shades to a pale brown. 

 At this period, the little caterpillars put out a long silken thread, some- 

 times to the extent of 18 inches, which in their natural condition, doubt- 

 less enables them to pass to other portions of their food-plant. The 

 length of the caterpillar at 3 days old, was about 3 mm. to 4 mm. 



After 1st moult (May 9.) The head, 2nd, 4th to 8th segments inclusive, 

 the loth, nth and 12th are now rich velvety black, the segments divided. 

 by a waved streak of sordid white. The 3d and 9th segments are dul 

 white, the latter with dull yellow dashes anteriorly. At the base of the 

 2nd segment are two tubercular proceesses, red at their base, and there is 

 a coral-red spot on the loth and nth segments respectively. Undeiside 

 as well as the legs and feet dull black. Length 5-6 mm. As the larva 

 increases in size before again moulting, the whole of the black space be- 

 comes a dull pale brown, and there appear on the loth and i nh segments 

 two very strongly marked red sealing wax like tubercles, those of the 

 same color on the 2d segment becoming also more distinct. The tuber- 

 cles of the other segments are now rich black, very strongly shown in 

 contrast with the ground color. The yellow dashes of the 9th segment 

 are now bright rich orange color. 



After 2nd Moult (May 18.) The usual tufts of hair common to 

 l^he genus now appear, and all the colors are bright and clear. Head jet 

 black, shining. Mouth parts sordid white. Second segment also black, 

 with white hairs in centre and with two long pencils of black hairs, 

 thickly massed at their summit. At their base, the two reddish tubercles 

 formerly noted. Dorsal region of segments three and four yelloAvish 

 white with black median streak. Sides black. Segments five and six 



