13 



larva (fig. 3) is between 2 and 3 inches long, dark brown or sooty in 

 color, with two rows of red spots and two rows of blue spots along- the 

 back, and with a j'ellowish but rather dim stripe between them. The 

 body generally is clothed with long hairs, and sometimes reaches the 

 length of 3 inches. 



The pupa. — The pupa (fig. 4) is not inclosed within a perfect cocoon, 

 but the full-grown larva spins a few 

 threads of silk as a sort of support and 

 changes to the pupa, which is dark red- 

 dish or chocolate in color and very 

 thinly sprinkled with light reddish 

 hairs. 



The adult or moth.— The male moth 

 (fig. 5) is brownish yellow in color, 

 sometimes having a greenish-brown 



tinge; it has a slender body, well-feathered antennae, and a wing 

 expanse of about an inch and a half. The forewings are marked with 

 wavy zigzag darker lines. It flies actively all day as well as by night. 



Fig. 5.— Male gipsy moth. Slightly en- 

 larged (from Insect Life). 



Fig. 6.— Female gipsy moth. Slightly enlarged (from Insect Life). 



The female moth (fig. 6) is nearlj' white, with slender black antennae, 

 each of the forewings marked with three or four zigzag, transverse, 

 dark lines, and the outer border of both pairs of wings with a series of 

 black dots. The body of the female is so heavy as to prevent flight. 



SEASONAL HISTORY. 



The moths emerge from the pupse from the middle of July to the 

 middle of August, the date varying considerably according to the 

 season. After mating they live but a short time, and the female dies 

 after depositing her eggs. 



The eggs are laid therefore in July and August. They are deposited 

 by the moths on the trunks of the trees upon which the caterpillars 

 have lived, and in fact usually in the vicinity of the place where the 



