NATURAL ENEMIES 



FIG. 30. An Ichneumon Fly, mag- 

 nified. 



develop at the expense of the 

 caterpillars, finally killing them. 

 There are various other insect 

 enemies. 



A curious habit of a common 

 species of Harvest-spider, or 

 Daddy-long-legs, was observed 

 by Miss Soule. On June 18 she 

 wrote: " On almost every mat 

 of Clisiocampa larvae we find 

 several 4 daddy-long-legs,' some- 

 times as many as twenty. I 

 have watched them closely and 

 can see no reason for their being there." A week later she 

 wrote again : " It seems this morning as if almost every larva 

 was attended by a 4 harvester,' which apparently stroked it 

 with a leg or two or merely stood near or over it. Sometimes 

 the touch made the larva curl up. but more often it seemed to 

 have no effect. It is very curious, and I watch and watch but 

 can learn nothing." The species concerned seemed to be the 

 common Striped Harvest-spider,* as I judged from some half- 

 grown specimens sent by Miss Soule. As to the reason for 

 their presence I can only conjecture that they found food in 

 connection with the caterpillars in some way. 



Toads were seen to devour many of the caterpillars, although 

 of course these creatures 

 are comparatively so rare 

 that they could make lit- 

 tle impression upon the 

 pests. 



Birds, however, did a 

 great deal toward reduc- 

 ing the numbers of the 

 insects. Miss Soule ob- 

 served robins, orioles, 

 chipping sparrows (Fig. 

 32), cat birds, cuckoos, 

 the red-eyed, white-eyed, FIG. 31. The Chickadee. 



* Litbunum dorsatum. 



