INSECT PESTS OF OHIO SHADE AND FOREST TREES 269 



the preceding species. The larva when full grown is a little more 

 than 2 inches in length, bluish green in color with two coral-red 

 tubercles on each of the second and third body segments, and a 

 single yellow tubercle on the next to the last segment. The body 

 is also decorated with numerous small, blue-black, slightly-raised 

 tubercles. (See Plate XLII, Fig. 3.) The pupa is firm and is found 

 within a compact, leathery cocoon spun within a rolled leaf. 

 The leaf petiole is covered with silk which extends around the twig, 

 thus firmly securing it. These dangling objects are quite conspicu- 

 ous during the winter and spring particularly after one learns to 

 detect them. 



The moth has a wing expanse of a little more than 3 inches. 

 As is not uncommon among insects, the males and females are 

 strikingly different in appearance. The female with its rich red- 

 brown coloration resembles in many respects the cecropia moth, 

 but the male is decidedly darker, sometimes almost black. The 

 eggs are pale cream in color and are laid in masses of a few eggs 

 each on the twigs of the host. 



Life history and habits. After spending the winter as a 

 chrysalids in the swinging cocoons, the adults emerge in June and 

 pair and the eggs are laid. Most of the summer is required for 

 larval development and the cocoons are spun in late summer or 

 early fall. 



Nature of work. The feeding larvae of this species are some- 

 times sufficiently plentiful to do considerable harm, occasionally 

 defoliating small trees. 



Food plants. In Ohio this insect is most frequently found on 

 wild cherry and sassafras. In southern Ohio the writer has 

 observed it feeding on tulip poplar, both in natural woodlands and 

 in forest plantations. It is also known to occur on ash, sweet gum, 

 spice bush, maple, plum, poplar, azalea, Cephalanthus, snowdrop 

 tree, barberry, birch, bayberry and lilac. 



Distribution. Doctor Holland (33) gives the range of this 

 species "over the Atlantic States from Florida to New England and 

 southern Canada, and thence westward through the valley of the 

 Mississippi to the eastern boundaries of the great plains." 



Natural enemies. Doctor Riley (34) gives the following as 

 the list of parasites of this species : Cryptus nuncius Say, Chalcis 

 mariae Riley, Ophion sp., an Ichneumon and a Tachinid. 



Control. Spraying with arsenicals or collecting the over- 

 wintering cocoons are effective measures in controlling this species 

 when it becomes troublesome. 



