146 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 



specimens belonging to the two last stages, differs remarkably from that of chloria, 

 having almost nothing in common ; as regards the larvae alone, the two species would 

 seem to be generically separated. 



The preceding description was drawn up from specimens kindly sent 

 by Miss Morton. 



THE SADDLE-BACK CATERPILLAR. 



201. Empretia stinmlea Clemens. 



While the singular caterpillar of this moth feeds on a variety of 

 trees, it has been found by Mr. S. L. Elliott to occur on the oak, though 

 it is nowhere a particularly common insect. 



According to Clemens, it feeds on a great variety of plants ; i. e., 

 fruit-trees, the rose, Indian corn, etc. 



The caterpillar is of strange form, being short and thick, with two 

 large spiny tubercles in front and two behind. On the back is a large 

 square green patch like a saddle-cloth, while the saddle is represented 

 by an oval purplish-brown spot. The hairs fringing the sides of the 

 body sting severely. Clemens, who describes this insect (Proc. Acad. 

 Nat. Sci. Phila.), says that the caterpillars "produce an exceedingly 

 painful sensation when they come in contact with the back of the hand, 

 or any portion of the body on which the skin is thin." The larvse do 

 not seem to seek cover, and are probably distasteful to birds on account 

 of their nettling hairs. 



Fig. 50. — Empretia stimidea : a, moth (after Hubbard); b, larva (after Riley) (all uaiuiul size). 



"The cocoons are short, oval, almost globular, flattened against the 

 branch to which they are attached, and are of the same tough, parch- 

 ment-like material and brown color as in Lagoa. They are usually 

 placed in concealment, often against the main trunk of the tree, at or 

 near the surface of the ground. The larva before pupating cuts a cir- 

 cular flap at the end, making an opening nearly equal to the entire 

 diameter of the cocoon, through which the moth makes its escape by 

 pushing open the door from within." (Hubbard's Orange Insects.) 



Larva. — Very short and broad, about an inch long and one-third as broad; with 

 a pair of short tubercles on two of the thoracic segmeuts, and four short ones nt the 

 end of the body; a pair of very large, fleshy tubercles like horns on the first and 

 eighth abdominal segments, which are longer before the last molt thau after- 

 wards. Body brown, but greeu above between the two pairs of large tubercles, in- 

 closing a central purplish or reddish-brown spot, bordered with white, the latter 

 edged with a black line. 



