5 



to eight-tenths of an inch in length, of a dark brown color, with five 

 broken lines of a lighter color running lengthwise, Fig. 2, a. 



At this time, and even while small, they often let themselves down 

 from the trees by a silken thread and hang suspended in the air, 

 much to the annoyance of persons passing under the trees. They 

 are also caught by passing vehicles and carried to places more or less 

 remote, thus greatly facilitating their distribution. 



After they are fully grown and done feeding, they descend to the 

 ground and burrow to the depth of three inches or more, where they 

 spin a fragile cocoon of dull yellowish silk within which they trans- 

 form to pupae, and remain in this state till the following spring, 

 when the moths emerge, ascend the trees and lay their eggs for 

 another generation. A few of the individuals, however, emerge in 

 the fall and lay their eggs, but these do not hatch till the following 

 spring. 



The male, Fig. 1, a, is of a pale ash color with a paler broken band 

 across the fore wings, ne:tr the outer margin, and three interrupted 

 brownish lines between that and the base. The hind wings are of a 

 very pale ash color or very light gray, with a darker dot near the 

 middle. The female, Fig. 2, 6, is wingless and of the same color as 

 the male. 



The fall canker-worms {Anisopteryx pometaria, Harr.) emerge from 

 the ground late in the fall, after the leaves have fallen from the trees 

 and frosts have appeared. The females climb the trees attended by 

 the males which hover around on the wing. After the mating of the 

 moths, the females lay their eggs side by side in regular masses, 

 Fig. 3, e, often as many as a hundred together, in an exposed situa- 

 tion on the twigs or branches of the trees. Sometimes the females, 

 by mistake, crawl up on the side of a building and deposit their 

 clusters of eggs on the exposed surface. 



Fig. 3. Fall Canker-Worm. 



a, b, Egg, side and top views; c, d, joints of larvae, side and top views, showing mark- 

 ings, enlarged; e, cluster of eggs ; /, full grown larva ; g, female pupa, natural size; 

 h, cremaster enlarged.— After Riley. 



