438 THE VAPORER MOTH. 



to fences. Two leaves are often drawn togetlier, and 

 tied by their threads, to form the cocoon of the 

 former. The cocoons of the females are always 

 placed where the eggs are to be deposited. The 

 implantation of this instinct is a wise provision, 

 because the females are wingless. 



Early in August the moth appears. Its color is 

 dark brown, with very few spots or streaks. The 

 flight of the male is peculiar, made up of short 

 jerks. The body of the female is at first very thick 

 and unwieldy, but, after the deposition of her egg, 

 appears slender and flabby ; and she soon becomes 

 so weak as to drop to the ground and perish. The 

 number of her eggs is from one hundred to two 

 hundred. They are placed upon the exterior of the 

 cocoon just vacated, where they are covered with a 

 frothy matter, which glues them together, and pre- 

 vents their destruction by birds. 



The caterpillar, however, is not without enemies. 

 It is attacked by a very small, bee-like insect, that 

 punctures its skin and inserts an egg, soon hatch- 

 ing a maggot, which feeds upon the fatty matter of 

 the caterpillar, and finally kills it. 



The vaporer moth can easily be destroyed, be- 

 cause the cocoon of the female, upon which the eggs 

 have been placed, can be readily distinguished, when 

 the leaves have fiiUen, by the prominence of the 

 dry leaf forming a part of it. They should then be 

 gathered and burned (Fitch). 



