The caterpillars feed about four weeks, completing their growth in 

 this State about the middle of June. They have three pairs of true 

 legs, situated on the three segments following the head, and two 

 pairs of piolegs. They move by alternately looping and extending 

 their bodies, as is the case with the caterpillars of the Fall Canker 

 Worm, and also of those of the other species of the same family. 

 When fully grown (Fig. 2, a) they are from three-quarters of an inch 

 to an inch in length, variable in general color, though most frequently 

 brownish, with eight scarcely noticeable lines of a lighter hue running 

 lengthwise (Fig. 2, d), and with the head and back marked and 

 spotted with black. At maturity they descend to the ground by 

 means of the silken thread which they spin, and burrow to the depth 

 of three inches or more where they construct fragile cocoons of a dull 

 yellowish color within which they pupate in a few days. They 

 remain through the winter in this state. 



The male moth (Fig. 1, a) is of a pale ash color with a paler 

 broken band across the forewings near the outer margin, and three 

 interrupted brownish lines between that and the base. The hind 

 wings are of a very pale ash color or very light gray and generally 

 have a darker dot near the middle. The female (Fig. 1 , 6) is grayish 

 in color with a black stripe along the middle of the abdomen. The 

 first seven abdominal segments of both sexes are crossed by two 

 transverse rows of short, stiff, reddish spines which point backwards ; 

 they are largest in the females (Fig. 1, d) . 



THE FALL CANKER WORM. 



Anisopteryx poiaetarki, Harr. 



Fig. 3.— Fale Canker Worm. 

 a, h, Egg, side and top views; c, d, joints of larva, side and top views, sliowing 

 markings, enlarged; e, cluster of eggs; /, full-grown larva; g, female pupa, natural 

 size. (After Rilej-.) 



