20 



The full grown caterpillar (Fig. 11) measures about two inches in 

 length. It is black with very numerous, fine, white markings, and a 

 row of eight large, rounded, prominent, reddish spots along the 

 middle of the back. Four to seven straight, rather long, stout, 

 slightly branched black spines pioject from each of the body seg- 

 ments. Earlier stages diifer somewhat in regard to the spines, but 

 all bear the characteristic row of red spots on the back. 



The caterpillars are social in their habits and completely strip the 

 branch they are on before leaving it. After feeding about four 

 weeks the caterpillar changes to a dark brown chrysalis with darker 

 markings about a double row of pointed tubercles on the back. The 

 chrysalis state lasts about two weeks, and then gives rise to the 

 butterfly. The butterfly has purplish-brown wings bordered out- 

 wardly by a band of yellow just inside of which is a row of blue 

 spots. Its outspread wings measure from three to three and one-half 

 inches. 



Besides the elm the caterpillars feed on willow and poplar and to 

 a slight extent on many other trees. 



The social habits of these caterpillars render their depredations 

 conspicuous. The easiest method to destroy them is to trim ofl" 

 infested branches and to burn or crush the insects on them. Spraying 

 with arsenical mixtures is only advisable when the colonies are very 

 numerous. 



THE CURRANT STEM-GIRDLER. 



Phylloicus flaviventris (Fitch.), 



Currants in different parts of the State have suffered during the 

 past year from the attacks of this insect. The injury inflicted 

 ■consists in the girdling of the tips of the new growth by the adult 

 insect and the subsequent burrowing in the pith by the larva. 



