Explanation —a, the fully grown larva ; h, the moth ; c, a cluster of eggs ; d, an egg magnifiwl. 



THE YELLOW-NECKED APPLE-TREE CATEEPILLAR. 



(Datnna ministra, Drupy.) 

 Order of LEPIDOPTERA. Family of Notodontid^. 



Synonyms : — Phalcena minigtra, Drury. Datana Tninistra, Walker. 

 Pygeera ministra, Harris' luj. Ins. p. 430. Eumctopona ministra, Fitch, Second N. Y. Rep., p. 235. 



This moth varies from an inch and a half to two inches and a qnar- 

 ter across the expanded wings. The head and forepart of the thorax 

 vary from bnfl-yellow to a dark red. The hinder part of the thorax 

 and abdomen are dull yellowish of different shades. The fore wings vary 

 from a bright butf-yellow to a peculiar livid or smoky-brown, crossed 

 by four or live narrow, dull reddish bands. The under wings are pale 

 yellowish or whitish, but tinted more or less with the darker color oi 

 the upper wings, and with the posterior margin more deeply colored. 



These various tints in the imago bear a certain relation to the varied 

 coloration of the larva, and this seems to depend upon the nature of the 

 different kinds of foliage upon which they feed. The larva, when fully 

 grown, may be described in general terms as a black, moderately 

 hairy caterpillar, \\dth four conspicuous yellow or white stripes on each 

 side of the body, and with the top of the neck, or first segment after 

 the head, in most of the varieties, of a bright wax-yellow color. When 

 fully grown they attain, under favorable circumstances, a length of two 

 inches or a little more. 



This brief description may answer the purpose of introducing the 

 species of which we are now to treat. The moths, like most other noc- 

 turnal Lepidoptera, are seldom seen, but the larvie, on account of their 

 large size and peculiar habits, must often have attracted the notice of 

 persons not nsually interested in the subject of insects. They feed upon 



