12 



DESCRIPTION OF THE INSECT. 



The eggs. — The eggs of the gipsy moth are laid in masses (fig. 2) of 

 about five hundred. The individual egg is minute, about the size of a 

 pinhead, and is salmon-colored when first laid, but turns dark in the 



Fig. 2.— Egg mass of the gipsy- 

 moth (Porthetria dispar). 

 (From Kirkland.) 



Fig. 3. — Full-grown caterpillar 

 of the gipsy motli. Natural 

 size (from Insect Life). 



course of a few weeks. Each Qgg mass is yellowish in appearance and 

 seems covered with hair. It is somewhat oval, being one-half of an 

 inch long and about three-fourths of an inch wide. During winter, 



Fig. 4. — Pupa of gipsy motli. Natural size (from Insect Life). 



from exposure to moisture in the atmo.sphere, it becomes dingj" white 

 in color. 



The larva or caterpillar. — The 3'oung larvte or young caterpillars ai"e 

 dark in color and well furnished with dark hairs. The full-grown 



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