21G N. H. AGR. EXPERIMEXT STATION. [Bulletin 139 



THE RED-HUMPED APPLE CATERPILLAR." 



With much the same habits and manner of injury as the last 

 species and often associated with it, is the Red-humped Apple 

 Caterpillar. 



Larva. — The name is given on account of the prominent hump 

 on the fourth segment, wliich, with the head, is a bright coral 

 red. The body of the full grown caterpillar is striped with yel- 

 lowish-white, and dark brown or black lines and a double row 

 of black spines extends along the back. The back is marked with 

 five narrow black lines. The first three segments are spotted 

 with black and white ; the sides of the fifth to tenth segments 

 are whitish with black lines above the spiracles and with five 

 black points, three above and two below the spiracles; the last 

 segment is spotted with black. The legs are black and the pro- 

 legs black and yellow. The full grown caterpillar is about an 

 inch and a quarter long and tapers toward the posterior end 

 which is usually held in the air, as in figure 7, c. 



The caterpillars appear about the same time in August and 

 defoliate the limb from the tip inward the same as the Yello^V'- 

 necked Apple Caterpillar. "When full grown, from the 1st to 

 the 2Gth of September, the caterpillars descend to the ground and 

 under rubbish or among loose particles of earth construct a 

 loose silken cocoon into which is glued particles of earth and rub- 

 bish so that it closely resembles its surroundings. After some 

 time the caterpillars transform to pupee, in which stage the win- 

 ter is passed. Caterpillars constructed cocoons September 20, 

 1906, but had not transformed October 11. 



These caterpillars are also gregarious and are often found 

 huddled together in masses on the limbs. When handled a cater- 

 I)illar will emit a fluid which has a peculiar acid smell and which 

 tloubtless serves as a defense against its enemies. 



The caterpillars also feed on plum, rose, thorn, pear, cherry, 

 willow, blackberry, and other related plants. 



Moth. — The moths appear about the last of June. "The fore- 

 wings of the moth are dark brown on the inner and grayish on 

 the outer margin ; they have a dark brown dot near the middle, 

 a spot near each angle, and several longitudinal streaks of the 



 Schizura concinna 8. and A. 



