BOMBYX CHRYSORRHOEA. 



309 



The caterpillars appear 2 to 3 weeks later, usually in August, 

 and at once spin web-nests among the neighbouring leaves. 

 In the autumn they spin large caterpillar-nests, as big as the 

 fist, in which they hibernate, binding together many leaves 

 with their threads, and thus forming chambers which they line 

 with silk and fasten firmly to the twigs. 



Pupation takes place in June in a thin greyish-brown cocoon 

 between leaves. 



Fig. 156. Bomlyx chrysorrhoea, L. 

 a Male, b Female, c Caterpillar, d Pupa. 



Generation annual. This insect is common, but rarely 

 appears in great numbers. In the Berlin Zoological Garden 

 they destroy the foliage almost every year. It is less common 

 in Britain than the closely allied B. similis, Fuss, (auriflua, 

 Fabr.) ; an insect of similar appearance, but with the abdo- 

 minal tuft of down golden-yellow. It resembles B. chry- 

 sorrhoea in habits, and especially attacks hedgerows and 

 orchard trees. 



c. Relations to the Forest. 



The insect is polyphagous ; the caterpillars are found on 

 pear and plum trees, on oak, white-thorn, and also on beech, 

 elm, maple, hornbeam, willows, poplars, roses ; even on robinia 

 when nothing else offers. 



