PROCEEDINGS, 1918 25 



western parts of the province. All garden and field crops ap- 

 pear to have been attacked. Females have been found de- 

 positing eggs on the potato, sunflower, apple, nasturtium 

 and many other plants. Even onions suffered severely from 

 the attacks of the caterpillars during the past season. 



The following studies were made from specimens reared 

 from an egg mass deposited on Hydrangea at Kentville, N. S. 



Summary of Life History. 



The eggs are laid by the female moth on the upper or under 

 surface of the leaves from the first to the tenth of July, and the 

 young larvae emerge about fifteen days later, the majority be- 

 coming fully grown from the first to the middle of Septem- 

 ber and the cocoon is spun shortly after. The winter is passed 

 in the pupal stage, the adult moth emerging during the early 

 part of the following July. 



DESCRIPTIONS 



The Egg. 



The eggs are laid in flat masses closely contiguous. Spher- 

 ical. .312 m. m. in diameter. Chorion closely irregularly 

 punctured, the punctures being finer at center of cap. Color, 

 light straw to yellow. Number of eggs laid in a single mass 

 vary from four hundred and twenty-five to five hundred and 



fifty. 



The Larva. 



The larvae, after emerging, generally consume the entire 

 shell of the egg from which it has jUst emerged, then start 

 feeding on whatever foliage is nearest, at first only eating the 

 pulp or tender parts, but later, as they advance in age, eating 

 out large areas and finally the whole leaf may be consumed. If 

 touched at any time while feeding or at rest, they will curl up 

 in a ball, a habit which applies to the larvae in all stages. The 

 larvae pass through a series of seven moults, the last one being 

 cast after the cocoon has been spun, but cannot be seen owing 

 to the thick hairy structure of the cocoon. After the sixth larval 

 skin has been cast, the large hairy caterpillars feed ravenously 

 for a time, then they get restless and can often be seen travell- 

 ing at great speed from place to place over roads, lawns and 

 fields in search of a suitable place to spin their cocoon, such as 

 under loose bark, fences, shingles and clapboards of buildings, 

 etc. 



