ATTACKING THE LEAVES. 87 



white, the head and thorax blackish brown. The abdomen 

 is dark gray, with a central black line, and alternate black and 

 grayish bands partly encircling it. When the wings are ex- 



FIG. 85. 



panded, the moth measures from three to three and a half 

 inches across. This also is a night-flyer. 



No. 33. The American Lappet-moth. 



Gastropacha Americana Harris. 



This singular insect is found in the larval state in July and 

 August, resting in the daytime on the twigs or limbs of the 

 apple-tree, feeding at night. Its body is broad, convex above, 

 and perfectly flat beneath, and when at rest it closely resem- 

 bles a natural swelling of the bark. It is of an ash-gray 

 color, fringed close to the under surface on each side with 

 tufts of blackish and gray hairs springing from projecting 

 tubercles. On the hinder part of the third segment there is 

 a bright-scarlet velvety band, and a similar one on the fourth 

 segment, neither of which is seen except when the larva is 

 in motion. On the second segment there are two small tu- 

 bercles on each side, and one on each side of the remaining 

 segments ; from these tubercles are given out tufts of grayish 

 hairs mingled with white ones. The under side of the body 

 is orange-colored, with a central row of diamond-shaped black- 

 ish spots. In general appearance it much resembles Fig. 87. 



