4 
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 larvee 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 inhabiting one nest and feeding together upon the adjacent 
leaves. If two eg@ masses happen to be deposited close together, as 
on the same or adjacent twigs, the resulting caterpillars may unite 
in one nest. Wherever they go each larva spins a thread of silk, the 
young individuals hanging suspended from a silken thread when 
they drop, as do the cankerworms and many other larvae. The nests, 
at first small and affording but little shelter, are gradually enlarged 
as the caterpillars grow and soon furnish ample protection. Upon 
close examination the nests of this species will be found to be made 
up of layers of silk, with room for the larve between the layers. 
According to Fitch these layers are the result of the caterpillars’ 
habit of lying on the outside of the nest during bright weather, the 
few restless individuals crawling back and forth over the resting 
mass, spinning silk as they go, soon forming a new layer. During 
rainy and cloudy weather the larve remain mostly within the nest, 
but when the weather is favorable they feed at regular intervals; 
according to Fitch, in the morning, in the afternoon, and again dur- 
ing the night. Upon becoming nearly full grown the larve wander 
singly away from the nest, feeding upon such plants as come to hand. 
This wandering habit preparatory to pupation results in the scatter- 
ing of the pup and greatly increases the chances of their escape 
from destruction from their numerous natural enemies. 
When full grown the caterpillars are about 2 inches long, cylin- 
drical, deep black in color, with a white stripe along the back and 
lateral markings, as shown in fig. 1, 6. On each side is a row of oval 
pale-blue spots, one on the middle of each segment, and on the ante- 
rior side of each is a broader, deep velvety-black spot. The body is 
sparsely clothed with fine soft yellowish hairs of varying length, 
thickest perhaps toward the anterior end, where they project forward 
over the black-colored head. In about six weeks from hatching the 
larvee become full grown and wander away from the nest, as stated, 
in search of suitable places for pupation. 
The cocoon.—The larvee select for pupation any convenient, more 
or less secluded place, as under loose bark, in grass or brush under 
trees, along fences, ete. If close to outbuildings the larvee often make 
their cocoons in the angles along the sides, in window casings, ete. 
The cocoon, shown at d, fig. 1, is oval in shape, about 1 inch long, 
and composed exteriorly of coarse, loose. whitish threads of silk 
[Cir. 98] 
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