8 HANDBOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



live on different forest trees. Find some other caterpillars 

 and feed them in an. observation box. 



Remedies. The tent is easily seen and should be de- 

 stroyed early in the morning or after sunset. The caterpil- 

 lars seldom leave the nest before 9 A.M. A sharp, practised 

 eye can also easily find the egg clusters in winter. 



NOTE TO TEACHER. If you cannot procure this insect, you might 

 take the white cabbage butterfly instead. 



7. Plant Lice or Aphids. 



MATERIAL : Twigs of apple, cherry and other trees infested by 

 plant lice ; different kinds of lady bugs and their larvae feeding on the 

 plant lice. 



Almost as soon as the leaves of apple and cherry trees 

 are out, we find some of the young shoots infested by very 

 small, yellowish-green or dark insects. Sometimes they 

 literally cover shoots and leaves. They have a small suck- 

 ing beak like a mosquito, and injure the plants by sucking 

 their juice. The attacked leaves generally become twisted 

 or curled, and thus even furnish shelter for their enemies. 

 These little pests are found on very many wild and culti- 

 vated plants. You may have noticed some peculiar swell- 

 ings on the leafstalks of cotton wood trees. If you open 

 these bulbs, you will find them full of plant lice. 



In early spring the aphids are wingless, but later in the 

 season there are some with wings, and these fly to other 

 plants and become the founders of new colonies. Late in 

 fall eggs are laid on the buds of food plants. These eggs 

 can endure the frost, and hatch the following spring. 



Most aphids secrete a sweet fluid, by which bees, flies, 

 and ants are attracted. You may sometimes find the leaves 

 of box elders and other trees almost covered with this 



Observations. Pay special attention to germination and to the develop- 

 ment of the seedlings. 



