28 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 353 



of the trees since the caterpillars strip the tops of the trees first. The larvae molt 

 four times and become full grown in about 5 weeks, depending on weather condi- 

 tions and food supply. They may migrate from one tree to another and when 

 abundant may collect in large numbers around the bases of defoliated trees. 

 From about mid-July to late August the caterpillars go to the ground where they 

 transform to pupae in the leaf mold or the soil beneath. They pass the winter 

 there in the pupal stage and the moths emerge the following spring. There is one 

 generation a year in New England although two generations have been reported 

 occasionally. 



Control. For the most part natural enemies keep this insect in check. When 

 it is necessary to protect valuable stands of trees, however, a spray of 4 pounds 

 of lead arsenate to 100 gallons of water, with 2 pounds of flour or 1 pound of cal- 

 cium caseinate added to make the spray stick to the foliage better, will give 

 satisfactory control if applied when the caterpillars first begin to feed. When 

 only a few trees are attacked, the caterpillars may be jarred from the trees in the 

 morning when it is cool and the insects are inactive. Encircling the tree with a 

 sticky band, as recommended for the gypsy moth, will prevent their climbing 

 back again. 



Under some conditions, after caterpillars are jarred from the trees or when they 

 are gathered in large numbers around the bases of the trees, it maj^ be possible to 

 kill them on the ground by mechanical means or a safe contact insecticide. 



Britton. W. E. Conn. State Ent. Rpt. 30:468, 529-532. 1931. 



Collins, C. W. Jour. Agr. Res. 32(7) :689-699. 1926. 



McDaniel. E. I. Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta. Spec. Bui. 243:20-22. 1933. 



Patch, E. M., and Johannsen, O. A. Maine .A.gr. Exp. Sta. (383-6-10) :25-27. No date. 



Green-Striped Maple Worm 



Anisola rubiciinda F. 



This native insect is widely distributed in the United States but appears to 

 be more abundant in the W'est in Kansas and Missouri although serious out- 

 breaks do occasionally occur in the East. The caterpillars evidently prefer the 

 foliage of maples, especially silver and red maple, but occasionally attack box 

 elder and oak. 



Description. The moth has a wingspread of about IJ^ to 2 inches. The fore- 

 wings are rose-red crossed b}' a broad, pale yellow band. The body is yellow with 

 the under side and legs rose-red. Eastern specimens appear to have the rose 

 tints more intense, whereas in the western forms the yellow predominates. The 

 male is slightly smaller than the female. 



The eggs are about 1/25 inch in diameter, slightly flattened, and pale green in 

 color which becomes yellowish before the larva emerges. 



The newly hatched caterpillar is yellow with a large black head. Numerous 

 short spines on the bod^' form black tubercles of almost uniform size. The full- 

 grown caterpillar is about \)/2 inches long, pale yellowish-green in color and 

 striped longitudinally above with alternate pale yellowish-green and darker green 

 lines. The head is cherry red in color. Just behind it on the second body segment 

 are two long, slender, slightly curved black spines. There are also shorter black 

 spines along the body. At the side of the body toward the rear (the tenth and 

 eleventh body segments) there is a slightly dilated rose-colored area. 



The pupa is dark brown, hard-shelled, and slightly less than 1 inch long. The 

 margins of the abdominal segments are armed with little spines. At the rear is a 

 spinelike projection which is slightly forked at the tip. 



