108 



the largest, with a conspicuous black center. When full grown the 

 caterpillar forms an inipcMlect cocoon in fh(> earth, at or near the surface, 

 by loosely webbing together particles of earth, leaves, or rubbish. 



The species is (widently two-brooded, hibernates in the pupal stage 

 (Fig. 157), and the first moths (Fig. 158) are i)roduced in May and 

 early June, and catei'pillars of the hrst brood late in July and in August. 



The secoiul brood of caterpillars 

 appears in September and October 

 and pu|)ales before winter sets in. 



nVlM':ilCHIRIA 10 Fai3k. 



(Auiomcris io.) 



This large and conspicuous 

 si)iny calerpillar (l''ig. 159) is wide- 

 ly distributed, although not espe- 

 cially common, throughout the 

 coimtry. It has a wide range of 

 food ])lants, largely trees, but is 

 not rar(> in cotton and corn fields, 

 feeding on the leaves. On one 

 occ^asion in J^ouisiana thousands 

 of them stripped cotton plants 

 of their leaves. It is a very 

 miscellaneous feeder, and nearly 

 one hundred kinds of jjlants have been reported as eaten by the cater- 

 pillar. 



The young larvjE are dull yc>llow, with black spines and head. They 

 arrange themselves in a row, side by side, across a leaf, beginning at the 

 tip and eating towards the base. They keep close together, and when 

 changing position on the plant travel single file. They rest by day, and 

 when about to molt tlraw together with silken threads a few leaves for 

 a jjrotecting shelter. As they ai)])roa('h maturity they no longer keeji 

 together, but they make 

 clean work of a plant or ^«^?'T~*''>-~,,_^ 

 branch before leaving it. 

 They are then pale' green 

 in color, with a dusky 

 white stripe each side, 

 edged above with lilac or 

 red. On each segment is 

 a row of usually six tufts 

 of spiny bristles, about 



thirty in a tuft, more or Vm. UiO. IlypcrchiHa io, male. Natural size. 



laivu. Sligiitly 



