THE FALL WEB-WvEM. 27 
very soon after issuing, and in ordinary seasons we may safely count on 
the buik of the eggs being laid by the end of May. During the month 
of June the moths become scarcer and the bulk of them have perished 
by the middle of that month, while the webs of the caterpillars become 
more and more conspicuous. The second brood of moths begins to ap- 
pear in July, and its occurrence extends over a longer period than is 
the case with the first or spring brood. The second brood of caterpil- 
lars may be found from the end of July to the end of September, hatch- 
ing most extensively, however, about the first of August. 
‘“‘In Massachusetts and other Northern States the first moths issue 
in June and July; the caterpillars hatch from the last of June until 
the middle of August, reach full growth and wander about seeking 
places for transformation from the end of August to the end of Sep- 
tember. 
“The following general remarks upon the different stages refer to 
Washington and localities where the same conditions hold: 
The Eggs (Fig. 17, b).—‘ The fe- 
male moth deposits her eggs in a 
cluster on a leaf, sometimes upon 
the upper and sometimes on the 
lower side, usually near the end ot 
a branch. Each cluster consists or 
a@ great many eggs, which are depos- 
ited close together and in regular 
“2 Fic. 17.—Hyphantria ewnea: a, moth in posi- 
TOWS, 1f the surface of the leaf per- tion on leaf caaite eggs, side view ; b, cone 
mits it. In three instances those °™"8°** 
deposited by a single female were counted. The result was 394, 427, 
and 502, or on an average 441 eggs. But in addition to such large 
clusters, each female will deposit eggs in smaller and less regular 
patches, so that at least 500 eggs may be considered as the real num- 
ber produced by a single individual. The egg, measuring 0.4 millime- 
ters, is of a bright golden-yellow color, quite globular, and ornamented 
by numerous regular pits, which give it under a magnifying lens the 
appearance of a beautiful golden thimble. As the eggs approach the 
time of hatching this color disappears and gives place to a dull leaden 
hue. 
“The interval between the time of depositing and hatching of the 
eggs for the first brood varies considerably, and the latter may be 
greatly retarded by inclement weather. Usually, however, not more 
than ten days are consumed in maturing the embryo within. The eggs 
of the summer brood seldom require more than one week to hatch. 
‘Without check the offspring of one female moth might in a single 
season (assuming one-half of her progeny to be female and barring all 
checks) number 125,000 caterpillars in early fall—enough to ruin the 
shade-trees of many a fine street. 
