114 QUINCE CULTURE. 



gray line, and towards the base are covered with a thick 

 wool-like covering. The posterior wings resemble those 

 of the male, as do also the head and thorax. The ex- 

 panse of the wings is from two and three-quarter inches 

 to three inches and a half. 



Soon after pairing the female lays her eggs in clusters 

 of twenty to thirty. The eggs are top-shaped, flattened 

 at the top and compressed on the sides ; about one- 

 twentieth of an inch in diameter, and creamy white, with 

 a yellowish spot above, which gradually increases in 

 color as they come to maturity, when it is almost black, 

 and the yellow larva show through the sides. Beginning 

 their work as early as June and extending it nearly 

 through September, it is easy to see that they may do 

 great harm. The broods remain together till near ma- 

 turity, when they separate for pupating. The full-grown 

 caterpillar is two and a half inches long, pea-green, with 

 a broad brown stripe, edged white, low down on the 

 body. Beginning with the fourth ring, there is a brown 

 triangular spot on the under side of each. The breath- 

 ing pores are yellow, ringed with brown. Each segment 

 of the body is dotted with little warts, armed with 

 clusters of branching spines. The prick of these sharp 

 spines irritates the skin like the sting of nettles. Up to 

 the age when they separate, the groups move in a regular 

 order, guided by the thread spun by the leader. They 

 moult four times, attaining maturity in August and Sep- 

 tember, according to the time they were hatched, when 

 the caterpillar will measure two and a half inches in length. 

 The full-grown larva descends to the ground, where it 

 draws together leaves or any other convenient material 

 for an outer covering, within which it makes a cocoon 

 of tough, gummy, brown silk, in which it changes to a 

 chrysalis. 



Remedies. If not discovered before they are half 

 grown, when together, they can be readily found and 



