EXPERIMENT STATION EEPORT. 



551 



Fig. 13. 



Male Gypsy Moth. From Div. Ent., U. 8. 

 Dept. Agric. 



at any time become so. It is well, then, to know something of the 

 insect, its api>earance in all stages, its life history and the manner 

 in which it is spread. 



Appearance of the Insect. 



The gvpsy moth belongs to a family or group allied to our common 

 vaporer moth, and the male is not unlike it in general appearance, 

 except that it is fully twice as large. 

 The fore-wings are smoky-brown, 

 with a yellowish tinge, and crossed 

 by four undulating, blackish bands ; 

 the hind-wings are more uniformly 

 dull, dark yellow. The antennse or 

 feelers are broadly feathered and 

 conspicuous. This moth is active and 

 flies readily, though not strongly, 

 seeking the females in daylight as well as during the evening. 



The" female is decidedly larger and is a more heavily-built insect 

 throughout. In color it is whitish, with a dirty, yellowish tinge, and 



the fore-wings are 

 crossed by irregular 

 l)hickish lines, which 

 are much more dis- 

 tinct along the upper 

 or front margin. There 

 are also two black 

 spots on the disc, so 

 that when the insect is 

 seen at rest on a tree 

 tnmk it has the form 

 of an elongate tri- 

 angle with apex up, 

 and along each lateral margin a series of short, black lines, which fade 

 out as they approach the middle. The abdomen is covered with yel- 

 lowish hairs and scales, which are more dense toward the tip. 



This female is sluggish and rarely flies. If she drops to the gi'ound 

 she may crawl to and on a tree trunk ; but she is just as likely to crawl 

 under a stone or on a-ny other convenient foothold. Wherever she 

 fixes herself she awaits the male, and after impregnation begins to 

 lay her eggs. 



Fig. 14. 



Female Gypsy Moth. From Div. Ent , U. S. Dept. Agric. 



