172 NORTH AMERICAN INSECTS. 



This moth was called by the late Dr. Harris, of Cam- 

 bridge, Clisiocampa Americana, and belongs strictly to the 

 nocturnal lepidoptera. It is often seen in large numbers, 

 during the month of July, entering our rooms in the even- 

 ing, flying around the light, and often being punished for 

 its temerity by burning its wings and body. In the same 

 month its female deposits her eggs upon a tree, gluing them 

 with a gummy, water-proof substance around the extremity 

 of some branch, and leaving them, during the whole autumn 

 and winter, exposed to the inclemency of rain, frost, and 

 snow, without the slightest injury. 



Early in the spring, however, the caterpillars begin to is- 

 sue, full of life and vitality, and immediately commence 

 erecting their tents in unison with several families of the 

 same species, and, if not at once destroyed, very soon sur- 

 round a whole tree, and for seven or eight weeks devour its 

 leaves, until all its verdure and fruit is destroyed, and its vi- 

 tality at least for the season ruined. In this way largo 

 orchards of the finest apple-trees fall to decay before the 

 ravages of this little caterpillar. 



In order to avoid this, and get rid of such pernicious in- 

 sects, we must destroy their eggs and caterpillars. We must 

 examine our apple-trees in the month of December, or after 

 the foliage has fallen to the ground, and crush all the eggs 

 which we find at the extremities of the branches. We must 

 look again in April and May, and destroy their webs as soon 

 as they are formed, and kill their caterpillars, reaching those 

 upon the highest branches with a long pole, at the end of 

 which should be fastened a sponge or rag moistened with 

 soapsuds or whitewash. If this be turned around and 

 through the web it will bring it, with the caterpillars, to 

 the ground, when they can easily be killed. 



To be effectual, this operation must be done at seven or 

 eight o'clock in the morning, or at noon, when all the cat- 

 erpillars arc in their tents ; for they are very regular in 



