REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 1898 195 
Life history and habits. The life history and habits of this species 
are very similar to those of the preceding form. ‘The winter is passed by 
the fully developed larvae in the egg, as stated by several writers. With 
the appearance of the first warm weather, the caterpillars emerge and if 
no food is at hand, await the appearance of the leaves. While small 
they remain together, but as they approach maturity the individuals scat- 
ter in much the same way as the apple-tree tent caterpillars, though 
nearly full grown larvae, specially when preparing to molt, may be seen 
in large clusters covering a portion of the trunk as do those of the gypsy 
moth, /orthetria dispar Linn. Such an assemblage is really a pretty sight 
if one has an eye for the beautiful in nature. The larvae do not become 
full grown till somewhat later than the apple-tree tent caterpillars. As 
a general rule they wander everywhere the first part of June and disap- 
pear by the middle of the month, though I have observed numbers 
feeding the latter part of June and have seen them in the early part of 
July. The cocoons resemble those of C. americana very closely, and are 
found in similar places, except that the habits of this species necessitate 
the pupation of the larger proportion in forests. The duration of the. 
pupa state is about two weeks. ‘The moths appear the latter part of 
June and during July. Dr Dyar records taking this species at electric 
lights in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1890, from June 20 to August 4, the 
adults being most abundant July 2 and 9. 
Distribution. The numerous records of serious injury by this insect 
in the eastern United States and Canada indicate that it is widely and 
generally distributed. It has been reported from Mississippi north into 
Canada and from Maine westward to California. Dr Dyar states (see 
citation) that C. disstvia extends throughout the range of C. americana 
and C. pluvialis and also into California. 
Food plants. Like the apple-tree tent caterpillar, this species can 
subsist on a large variety of plants. Its favorite species of oak in the 
southern states, as stated by Dr Riley, are those belonging to the same 
group as the black oak. In New York and adjoining states this insect 
is reported more frequently as defoliating the sugar maple than any other 
tree. This injury may be owing to the fact that large sugar orchards 
afford the most favorable conditions for the caterpillars in the north, and 
as the maples are of greater value than forest trees, complaints of attack 
are more frequent. ‘The caterpillars have been reported by various writers 
as feeding upon the following trees and shrubs: linden, maples, locust, 
peach, plum, cherry, rose, strawberry, apple, sweet gum (Liguidambar 
‘ 
