THE VAPORER MOTH. 437 



gnaws the stem of the fruit, making it fall to the 

 gromid. It is found generally in the more southern 

 parts of our country. It makes its appearance a 

 little later in the season than the common cater- 

 pillar, and its nest is attached to the sides of the 

 tree, instead of to the fork of the limbs. In other 

 respects, it is very much like those in the preced- 

 ing description. 



There are various insects which prey upon this 

 caterpillar in the pupa state. Some of them spin 

 small cocoons upon the larva, and consume the 

 pupa. As in respect to the preceding, it is often 

 necessary to destroy the nest several times, as a 

 portion of the worms will be foraging, who will re- 

 construct their abode on their return (Fitch). 



(4) The Vaporer Moth — Orgyia leucostigma. The 

 caterpillar of this moth " is slender, with pale yellow 

 hairs and tufts, and black pencil-marks ; its head, 

 and two small protuberances on the hind part of 

 the back, are bright coral red." It is about one 

 inch in length, has sixteen feet, and is very beauti- 

 ful in its appearance. Among the fruits, it feeds 

 upon the leaves of the apple and the plum during 

 the month of July. It is not gregarious, but lives 

 solitary, and eats only the soft parts of the leaf and 

 the smaller ribs. Their cocoons which are to pro- 

 duce females are spun, in the latter part of this 

 month, to twigs and limbs, while those from which 



the male moths are to be hatched are often attached 

 37* 



