THE WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK MOTH 293 



This is the cycle in the life history of the moth completed: 

 it lives in the egg from August vmtil the May following; it lives 

 as a caterpillar during June and a part of July; it lives in a cocoon 

 as a pupa about two weeks during the last part of July and the 

 first of August; it Uves as a moth during August and perhaps a 

 part of September. 



Directions to the Teacher 



The teacher should have the children collect some of these 



^^^ ^^^^H cocoons, wnth the eggs on them by or before 



^^B^^^^^^^P May 15th. Keep them in a pasteboard 



^^^^^^^^^^^ box until the eggs begin to hatch; then 



^^^P^^^^B prepare a breeding cage, by using any 



^^^■^i^^ common board or pasteboard box, with net- 



Notolophus leucostigma ting over it. In this box place a bottle filled 



with water. In this place some branches 



of horsechestnut in full leaf. Branches of Hnden, soft maple or 



elm may be used instead, for the insect feeds on many trees ; but 



continue to use the kind of leaves you begin with. Place the 



caterpillars on the leaves as soon as they hatch. After a little 



you wiU have to put in fresh branches, as the caterpillars are 



voracious. Do not think you must keep all the caterpillars that 



hatch from one egg mass ; fifteen or less are sufficient to show the 



life history. 



Questions Which Pupils Should Answer Through Their 

 Own Observations 



1. Where did you find cocoons wnth eggs upon them? 



2. How many eggs do you supose there are in an egg mass? 



3. Since you cannot coimt them with the naked eye count the 

 caterpillars that hatch from one egg mass. 



4- Upon what date did your caterpillars hatch? 



5. What color are the caterpillars at first? 



6. What part of the leaf do they first feed uponi* 



7. How old are they when they first eat a hole through the leaf? 



8. How many times does this caterpillar change its coat? 



9. How old is the caterpillar when the long black plimies first 

 appear? 



10. Shake a branch with some young caterpillars on it and see 

 if thev fall off. 



