MAPLE CATERPILLARS. 



39a 



Accordiug to Riley, the eggs are deposited in patches of thirty and 

 upward, ou the uuder side of a leaf. Each is about 0.05 inch long, sub- 

 oval, slightly flattened, translucent, and pale greenish. 



In Missouri and Kansas the worm is double-brooded, the first brood 

 of larvae appearing mostly during June and giving forth the moths late 



Fig. 147. — The green-striped spiny maple- worm; &, papa; c, female. — After Eiley. 



in July, while the second brood of worms appears in August and Sep- 

 tember, wintering in the chrysalis state, and not appearing as moths 

 until the following May. The caterpillar molts four times, becoming 

 fully fed within a month, and then entering the ground to pupate.* 



Larva. — la the first stage, yellow, with a large black head, the spiues forming little 

 black tubercles of nearly uniform size. la the second stage the head is browner, and 

 the spines and stripes of the full-fed larva more apparent. In the third stage like the 

 caterpillar in its fourth or last stage, but smaller. The fully fed caterpillar Ib an inch 

 and a half long; pale yellowish-green longitudinally, striped above alternately with 

 eight very light yellowish-green lines and seven of a darker green, inclining to black, 

 with two slender black spines ou the second segment behind the head, and two lateral 

 rows of sharper, shorter spines. Head copal yellow ; segments 10 and 11 a little di- 

 lated and rose-colored at the sides. 



Chrysalis. — Rough and pitted, nearly black, with curved horns ab out the head 

 and thorax, and the movable joints provided with a ring of sharp conical teeth around 

 the anterior edge. (Riley.) 



Moth. — Fore-wings rose-colored, crossed by a broad pale-yellow band; the hind 

 wings pale yellow, with a short rosy band behind the middle; the body is yellow, 

 the uuder side and legs rose colored (Harris). In Western specimens, the yellow pre- 

 dominates, the rose-color being but faiutly visible, accordiug to Riley, who has also 

 had specimens which were almost white or colorless. The wings expand about two 

 inches. The male antennae are broadly pectinated like feathers. 



Remedies. — A Tachina parasite, Tachina {Belvosia) bifasciata Fabr., 

 and an ichneumon fly prey upon the caterpillars, and thus reduce their 

 numbers. Riley recommends searching for and destroying the moths 

 and eggs late in May, while the worms, when about to leave the trees, 



* See also Insect Life, ii, 1890, 276. 



