6 



This species is very common in eastern Massachusetts, but has not 

 been observed in Amherst. Most of the moths emerge from the 

 ground late in the fall, occurring in the greatest numbers in Novem- 

 ber, but many come out earlier and a few remain in the ground over 

 winter. The female ascends the tree attended by the males, but 

 instead of depositing its eggs (Fig. ?>, ct, b and e) in sheltered places 

 as the other species does, it laj^s them in an exposed situation in a 

 compact, regular cluster, in a single layer of 200 or more. The egg 

 is in the form of a truncated cone and is attached by the smaller end. 

 The opposite end has a depressed centre and is bordered by a dark 

 circle. The general color of the eggs is giayish. 



The eggs hatch in the spring with the unfolding of the leaves. 

 The caterpillars resemble those of the other species in habits, and as 

 in that species, the young are most often greenish. The mature 

 caterpillars measure almost an inch in length. As in the other 

 species, the body is longitudinally striped, but instead of eight indis- 

 tinct stripes, there are six distinct ones. And instead of but two 

 pairs of prolegs, this species has three (Fig. 3,./'), the additional 

 pair being small but distinct. 



When through feeding the caterpillars descend from the trees and 

 burrow into the ground. Here they construct dense, buff-colored 

 cocoons within which they pupate about a month later. 



-^ 



Flo. 4.— Fall Canker Worm. 

 a, Male moth; h, female motli, natui-al size; c, joints of her antenn.-e; d, joints of 

 her abdomen, enlarged. (After Riley.) 



The male moth (Fig. 4, a) is of a pale gray or ash color. The 

 fore wings are crossed by two rather irregular whitish bands, and the 

 hind wings by a single, less distinct whitish band. The female (Fig. 

 4, b) is of a uniform pale gray or ash color. Neither male nor 

 female has spines along the abdomen. 



MARKED DISTINCTIONS HETWKKN THE TM^O SPECIES. 



Most of the Spring Canker Worm moths emerge in the spring, 

 while most of the Fall Canker AVorm moths come up in the fall. 



