4 FARMERS’ BULLETIN 662, 
DESCRIPTION AND LIFE HISTORY. 
THE EGG. 
Eggs are deposited in masses or belts encircling the smaller twigs, 
as shown in figure 3. Different egg masses may vary from one-half to 
three-fourths of an inch in length and contain from 150 to 250 eggs. 
The average number of eggs in several egg masses counted by Prof. 
V. H. Lowe on peach and apple was about 223 each. Each egg belt is 
deposited by an in- 
dividual female 
and ordinarily rep- 
resents the entire 
number which she 
wil deposit. Eggs 
are placed on end, 
cemented closely 
together, the whole 
oval-shaped mass 
being finally cov- 
ered with a layer of 
light-brown frothy 
glue, whichsoon be- 
comes tough, brit- 
tle, and glistening. 
Eggs are deposit- 
ed by the moths 
by early midsum- 
mer, or earlier in 
the South, the em- 
bryonic larve de- 
veloping so that by 
fall they are prac- 
tically full grown, 
Fia. 3.—Egg masses of apple-tree tent caterpillar. Slightly enlarged. although remaining 
(Original.) within the egg until 
the following spring. With the coming of a warm spell the larvee 
escape by gnawing through their eggshells, often before there is foliage 
out for food, and under these circumstances they may feed upon the 
glutinous covering of the egg mass. 
THE LARVA. 
In the presence of food the larve begin the formation of their 
nest in about two days from hatching, usually selecting the crotch 
formed by two limbs and ordinarily one that is not far from the egg 
mass. The caterpillars are sociable, those from one egg mass inhabit- 
ing one nest and feeding together upon the adjacent leaves. If two 
ege masses happen to be deposited close together, as on the same or 
