4 
Haven, Conn., but it is not known to be injurious in these localities. 
It has been sent to the Bureau of Entomology from Springfield, Mass., 
but probably does not breed there. 
FOOD PLANTS. 
The bagworm, although a very general feeder, displays a particular 
fondness for evergreens of all kinds and especially for arborvite, 
hence it seems probable that one or the other of these was its original 
or normal food plant (fig. 3). The species becomes exceedingly abun- 
dant every few years, and at such times it may be found on shade, 
orchard, and forest trees of nearly all kinds. Itis fond of the maples, 
particularly the cut-leaved and silver maples, and the related box 
elder; also of the poplars and mulberry, less so of the elms, and 
apparently still less so of the oaks. It feeds more or less freely, how- 
ever, on most other trees and shrubs, and even on many low-growing 
semi-woody plants, such as elder, mallows (Hibiscus), and ragweed 
(Ambrosia trifida). Thus, in the absence of its choice food plants, it 
is able to subsist on the foliage of almost any of the plants of the 
character enumerated and which may be available, but it does not 
seem to live on grasses and herbaceous plants generally. 
HABITS AND LIFE HISTORY. 
The bagworm overwinters in the egg stage within the old female 
bags, and for this reason hand-picking in winter time is an efficacious 
remedy. In the late spring the young hatch from the eggs, crawl out 
upon the twigs, make their way to the nearest leaf, and immediately 
begin to feed and to construct cases or bags for themselves. ‘They 
spin a large amount of silk and attach to it, for additional strength 
and protection, bits of leaf or of twig, evidently attempting to disguise 
the nature of the case as well as to strengthen it. ‘The larva is 
remarkably soft-bodied, except for its head and strong thoracic plates, 
and it is necessary that the soft abdomen should have some protection. 
The construction of the bag of an allied species was carefully studied 
by H. G. Hubbard, and it is a very interesting performance. 
The young larva (fig. 4, ~) cuts off with its jaws a small fragment of 
leaf which it places between its front legs, gradually forming a pile 
fastened loosely with silk. When the pile becomes a transverse tangle 
about as long as the body it is fastened at each end loosely to the surface 
upon which it rests; then the caterpillar, after placing itself at right 
angles, dives under the mass, turning a complete somersault, so that it 
lies on its back, bound down by the fillet. It then twists around and 
stands upon its feet, having its neck under a sort of yoke (fig. 4, 0). 
It makes the yoke into a complete collar, adding bits to each end until 
[Cir. 97] 
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