ATTACKING THE LEAVES. 



85 



No. 31. The Blind-eyed Sphinx. 



Smerinthus excecatus (Sm. & Abb.). 



During September, and sometimes as late as the beginning 

 of October, there may be found occasionally on the apple-tree, 

 feeding on the leaves, a thick, cylindrical caterpillar, about two 

 and a half inches long, with a green triangular head, bordered 

 with white, an apple-green body, paler on the back, but deeper 

 in color along the sides, with its skin roughened with numerous 

 white-tipped granulations, having a stout horn on the hinder 

 part of its back, of a 

 bluish-green color, with FIG. 83. 



seven oblique stripes on 

 each side, of a pale yel- 

 low, the last one of a 

 brighter yellow than the 

 others and extending to 

 the base of the horn. 

 This is the larva of the 

 blind-eyed sphinx, represented in Fig. 83. 



When full grown, it leaves the tree and buries itself in 



FIG. 84. 



the earth, where it changes to a chrysalis of a chestnut-brown 

 color, smooth, with a short terminal spine. 



The moth (Fig. 84) appears from May to July, but chiefly 



