262 



THE APPLE CULTURIST. 



appear in large numbers in apple-orchards, where they do 

 great damage if permitted to flourish unmolested. Pro- 

 fessor Fitch says that 



" This caterpillar, as seen after it has forsaken its nest and is wandering about, 

 is H inches long and 0.20 thick. It is cylindrical and of a pale blue color, tinged 

 low down on each side with greenish gray, and is everywhere sprinkled over 

 with black points and dots. Along its back is a row of ten or eleven oval or dia- 

 mond-shaped white spots, which are similarly sprinkled with black points and 

 dots, and are placed one on the fore part of each segment. Behind each of these 

 spots is a much smaller white spot, occupying the middle of each segment. The 

 intervening space is black, which color also forms a border surrounding each of 

 the spots, and on each side is an elevated black dot, from which arises usually 

 four long black hairs. The hind part of each segment is occupied by three crin- 

 kled, and more or less interrupted pale orange-yellow lines, which are edged with 

 black. And on each side is a continuous and somewhat broader stripe of the 

 same yellow color, similarly edged on each of its sides with black. Lower down 

 upon each side is a paler yellow or cream-colored stripe, the edges of which are 

 more jagged .and irregular than those of the one above it, and this stripe also is 

 bordered with black, broadly and unevenly on its upper side, and very narrowly 

 on its lower side. The back is clothed with numerous fine fox-colored hairs, and 

 low down on each side are numerous coarser whitish ones. On the under side is 

 a large oval black spot on each segment, except the anterior ones. The legs and 

 prolegs are black, and clothed with short whitish hairs. The head is of a dark, 

 bluish color, freckled with numerous black dots, and clothed with short black- 

 ish and fox-colored hairs. The second segment or neck is edged anteriorly with 

 cream white, which color is more broad upon the sides. The third and fourth 

 segments have each a large black spot on each side. The instant it is immersed 

 in spirits the blue color of this caterpillar vanishes, and it becomes black." 



The accompanying illustration (Fig. 102) will give the 

 reader a correct idea of some of the stages of existence 

 through which this insect passes. At a, the egg-mass is 



Fig. 102. 



represented as it is 

 found attached to 

 small twigs of ap- 

 ple - trees. These 

 eggs may be read- 

 ily distinguished 

 from the eggs of 

 the common Amer- 

 ican Tent -caterpil- 

 lar, by the unif orm- 



re, the eggs of the Forest Tent-caterpillar; &, the parent ly Cylindrical diam- 



railler that lays the eggs ; c, transverse section of one 

 of the eggs ; d, magn' 



iggs ; c 

 ailed. 



eter, and by being 



