THE "LOCUST CARPENTER. 



683 



prevents the female from gaining a foothold, and so debars her 

 from depositing her eggs. The oak, as well as the locust, needs 

 this protection. 



The colour of this insect depends much upon the sex. The 

 female, which is larger than the male, is entirely grey, white, 

 black, and brown, while the male is generally darker than the 

 female, and has the hind wings of an ochreous yellow, of which 



Fig. 410. — Pielus labyrinthitis. 

 (Brown and silver.) 



colour the female has none. When the caterpillar is full-fed, it 

 spins a cocoon within the body of the tree, and changes to its 

 perfect state about June or July. As soon as it has issued 

 from the tree, its first care is to find a mate, and its second to 

 deposit its eggs. If, therefore, by the application of soft soap 

 or any such substance, the Moths can be prevented from settling 

 on the trunks during June and July, they may be considered as 

 tolerably safe. 



