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NATURE-STUDY REVIEW 



[15:7— Oct., 1919 



tubercles along the side of the insect are blue during this stage* 

 The next molt occurs five or six days later; this time the cater- 

 pillar is bluish-green in color, the large tubercles on the second 

 and third segments being deep orange, those on the upper part 

 of the other segments yellow, except those on the first and last 



segments , which are blue . 

 All the other tubercles 

 along the sides are blue. 

 After the fourth molt it 

 appears as an enonnous 

 caterpillar, often attain- 

 ing the length of three 

 inches and is as large 

 through as a man's 

 thimib ; its colors are the same as in the preceding stage. There is 

 some variation in the colors of the tubercles on the caterpillars 

 during these different molts ; in the third stage it has been observed 

 that the tubercles usually blue are sometimes black. After the 

 last molt the caterpillar eats voraciously for perhaps two weeks or 

 longer and then begins to spin its cocoon. 



The cocoon. — This is the cocoon foand most often on our orchard 

 and shade trees, and is called by the children the cradle "cocoon," 

 since it is shaped like a hammock and hung close beneath a branch; 

 it is a very safe shelter for the helpless creature within. It is made 



Cecropia caterpillar shedding its skin. 



Cecropia caterpillar spinning its cocoon. 



