306 



PROTECTION AGAINST INSECTS. 



The caterpillars hatch after 3 weeks, in June or July, make 

 their first meal off their egg-shells, and remain a short time 

 in clusters, with their heads usually turned inwards; about 

 the middle of July they separate and wander towards the 

 crowns of the trees, coming down to pupate in September. 



Pupation occurs at the end of September, or in October, 

 usually under dead leaves, dead fallen wood, etc., on the 

 ground, in the bark-cracks of oaks, Scots pines, etc., or 

 among herbage on the ground. 



Fig. 154. Beech-leaf, eaten by the larva 

 of B. pudibunda, L. (Natural size.) 



Fig. 155. Oak -leaf, 

 stripped hy the larva 

 of . pudibunda, L. 

 (Natural size.) 



The generation is annual. 



The caterpillar is very hardy, and withstands snow and 

 cold well. 



c. Relations to the Forest. 



The caterpillar lives singly on almost all forest trees, even 

 conifers, but has only been observed in abundance on the 

 beech, and occasionally on the hornbeam, oak or alder. It 



