ATTACKING THE LEAVES. 89 



No. 34. The Velleda Lappet-moth. 



Tolype velleda (Stoll). 



The caterpillar of this species is very similar in appearance 

 and habits to that of the American Lappet-moth, No. 33, 

 with some slight differences in color and markings. The full- 

 grown larva is two inches or more in length, with a small, 

 flat head, nearly hidden beneath two projecting tufts of hair 

 from the second segment. It is represented partly grown in 

 Fig. 87. The body is bluish 

 gray, with many faint paler 

 longitudinal lines ; across the 

 upper part of the fourth seg- 

 ment there is a narrow velvety 

 black band, more conspicuous 

 when the caterpillar is in motion. On each segment above 

 there are two warts with short black hairs, of which those on 

 the fourth segment, anterior to the band, are most prominent. 

 There are a few short black and gray hairs scattered over the 

 body. The side fringes which border the body close to the 

 under surface are composed of spreading tufts of light-gray 

 mingled with black hairs, of unequal length, proceeding from 

 warts nearly one-tenth of an inch long. The under side is of 

 a pale-red or orange color, with black spots. This caterpillar, 

 when at rest, closely resembles the color of the twig to which 

 it is attached, and hence is difficult to detect. It reaches 

 maturity during the month of July, and is found on the 

 cherry and elm, as well as on the apple. 



The cocoon, which is usually attached to one of the branches 

 of the tree on which the larva has fed, is about an inch and 

 a half long and half an .inch wide, oval, convex above, and 

 flattened on the under side ; it is of a brownish-gray color, 

 with a few blackish hairs interwoven with the silk. 



The moth (Fig. 88) is usually found in August and Sep- 

 tember. It has a large, thick, woolly body, of a white color, 

 variegated with bluish gray; its legs are thick and very 



