MAPLE CATERPILLARS. 399 



28. The maple slug worm. 



Lithacodes fascial a H. Sch. 



Order Lepidoptera ; family Bombycid^. 



We have found the larva of this rather common slug- 

 caterpillar on the maple at Jackson, N. H., September 

 10. It agrees with Clemens' description of the larva 

 of L. laticlavia. (See Proc. Acad. N^at. Sc.,1860, p. 157). 

 In walking the larva, like others of its group, moves ^^^- iso.-Mapie 

 on a broad soft disk like a slug, the disk moving in p^fk^rd. 

 wave-like undulations from back forwards. 



The following description has been taken from Professor Riley's MS. 

 notes: 



Like Glover's ^ apparently. Young found September 5, 1869, on the wild cherry. 

 Length, 0A2. Color pale green, variegated, i. e., spotted and lined with still paler 

 yellowisl\ green. Six pale longitudinal lines, two dorsal, two lateral, and two ven- 

 tral, all more or less undulating, and all approaching at extremities and diverging 

 in middle of body. Between the dorsal lines each segment is marked with a slightly 

 elevated somewhat triangular pale spot, with a dark center, while on each side of it 

 anteriorly and contiguous to the longitudinal line is a darker green spot. Between 

 doraal and lateral line there is also a pale spot with darker center and other 

 smaller pale spots each side of it. Anus terminating in an obtuse point as in figure. 

 September 8, 1869. It has formed its cocoons somewhat differently from the others 

 now breeding. It first cut off a piece of leaf large enough to cover its back, and 

 then, after anchoring it with silken cables to a whole leaf, proceeded to form its 

 cocoon between the two. February 11, 1870. The lid, which opens when the imago 

 of these Limacodes escapes, is evidently severed before the larva changes to pupa, 

 for upon touching a cocoon of one to-day the lid sprang open, though the larva was 

 dead and had dried up within. July 20, 1870. The moth issued. It is Lithacodes 

 fasciola Clem. (Lintner) and = Limacodes hetidce Fitch MS. According to Fitcb, the 

 larva from his verbal description agrees very well, but he bred his from the beech. 

 September 6, 1870. Found another on cherry to-day. September 20, 1881. Miss Mary 

 Murtfeldt is feeding one on cherry. Found one to-day on hickory. The pale spot in 

 center of joints has no dark center, and near the darker spots, i. e., from each joint, 

 arises along the (iorsal pale lines only one such bristle, and from the lateral line 

 only one such bristle. It does not sting. The thoracic legs are distinct. Mr. Lint- 

 ner has bred it from the horse chestnut. It also breeds on the hard maple and elm 

 (found September 15, 1875). 



Larva. — Body oval, with a wide dorsal square ridge, hollowed slightly along the 

 middle, where situated on each suture is a yellowish round spot centered with a dark- 

 green dot. The edge of the ridge stained with yellow ; on the outer and lower side 

 of the ridge is a lateral row of spots like those in the middle of the back. Body 

 pale-green, with yellow touches and spots besides those described. Head green, 

 but the jaws and labrum dark amber. Along the lower edge of the body is a whitish 

 line. Length, 12""". 



29. Sisprosea inornata Grote and Rob. 



The specimen from which Fig. 148 was drawn was found under a 

 a maple at Amherst, Mass., October 9. 



