THE FALL WEB-WORM 247 



very same insect, or at most to slight varieties, and that Drury's name cunea, having 

 priority, must be used for the species. 



The most frequent form observed in the vicinity of Washington is white, with a 

 very slight fulvous shade; it has immaculate wings, tawny-yellow front thighs, and 

 blackish feet ; in some specimens the tawny thighs have a large black spot, while 

 the shanks on the upper surface are rufous. In many all the thighs are tawny yel- 

 low, while in others they have scarcely any color. Some specimens (often reared 

 from the same lot of larvte) have two tolerably distinct spots on each front wing — 

 one at base of fork on the costal nerve and one just within the second furcation of 

 the median nerve. Other specimens, again, have their wings spotted all over and 

 approach the form punctatissima, described as the " Many-spotted Ermine-moth" of 

 the Southern States. The wings of the moths expand from 1^ inches to Ig inches. 

 The male moth, which is usually a little smaller, has its antennae doubly feathered 

 beneath, and those of the female possess instead two rows of minute teeth. 



The pupa state lasts from six to eight days for the summer brood, while the hiber- 

 nating brood, however, requires as many months, according to the latitude in which 

 they occur. 



Injury done in 1836. — During the past year the city of Washington, as well as its 

 vicinity, was entirely overrun by the caterpillars. With the exception of trees and 

 plants the foliage of which was not agreeable to the taste of this insect, all vegeta- 

 tion suffered greatly. The appended list of trees, shrubs, and other plants, shows 

 that comparatively few kinds escaped entirely. The fine rows of shade trees which 

 grace all the streets and avenues appeared leafless, and covered with throngs of the 

 hairy worms. Excepting on the very tall trees, in which the highest branches 

 showed a few leaves too high for the caterpillars to reach, not a vestige of foliage 

 could be seen. The trees were not alone bare, but were still more disfigured by old 

 and new webs made by the caterpillars, in which bits of leaves and leaf-stems, as well 

 as the dried frass, had collected, producing a very unpleasant sight. The pavements 

 were also constantly covered with this unsightly frass, and the empty skins of the 

 various molts the caterpillars had to undergo were drifted about with every wind, 

 and collected in masses in corners and tree-boxes. The parks fared a little better. 

 Because of the great variety of trees planted there some escaped entirely, while 

 others showed the effect of the united efforts of so many hungry caterpillars, only in 

 a more or less severe degree. The grassy spots surrounding the different groups of 

 trees had also a protective influence, since the caterpillars do not like to travel over 

 grass, except when prompted by a too ravenous hunger. The rapid increase of this 

 insect IS materially assisted by the peculiar method of selecting shade trees for the 

 oity. Each street has, in many cases, but one kind of shade tree; rows of them ex- 

 tend for miles, and the trees are planted so close together that their branches almost 

 interlace. Thus there is no obstacle at all for the rapid increase and distribution of 

 the caterpillars. If different kinds of trees had been planted, so as to alternate, less 

 trouble might be experienced. Plate xxxvi shows a view of Fourteenth street, taken 

 in late September, which illustrates this point ; the poplars on the west side being com- 

 pletely defoliated as far as the eye can reach, while 'the maples on the east are al- 

 most untouched. 



As long as the caterpillars were young, and still small, the different communities 

 remained under cover of their webs, and only offended the eye. But as soon as they 

 reached maturity, and commenced to scatter — prompted by the desire to find suita- 

 ble places to spin their cocoons and transform to pupae — matters became more un- 

 pleasant, and complaints were heard from all those who had to pass such infested 

 trees. In many localities no one could walk without stepping upon caterpillars ; they 

 dropped upon every one and every thing; they entered flower and vegetable gardens, 

 porches and verandas, and the house itself, and became, in fact, a general nuisance. 



The chief damage done to vegetation was confined to the city itself, although the 

 •caterpillars extended some distance into the surrounding country. There, however. 



