DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



201 



Fig. S.— The American Tent Caterpillar 



severe in the towns and villages than in the country. These 



larvae hatch from the 

 eggs a week or more 

 later than the com- 

 mon American tent 

 caterpillars, and there 

 is considerable vari- 

 ation in the time of 

 hatching within the 

 species itself. In a 

 given region caterpil- 

 lars of various sizes 



markings on one ring of the back; b, markings COllld easily be found 

 on one ring of the side. ^^^^ -^ -^^^ ^^ ^^^^^ 



in June. They feed upon the leaves in all parts of the trees, 

 having a preference apparently for the upper branches. They 

 very commonly eat out the blade of the leaf along the side of 

 the midrib, severing the marginal part so that it falls off; 

 these severed portions were to be found abundantly on the 

 ground beneath the infested trees. The result of this pecu- 

 liar mode of attack is of course greatly to increase the damage 

 done for the amount of leafage actually consumed. A bulle- 

 tin giving a full discussion of the life history and remedies 

 for the forest tent caterpillar, is in preparation for publication 

 before next spring. 



A more encouraging statement may be made concerning the 

 AMERICAN TENT CATERPILLARS {CUslocampa americano) 

 which have been regularly destructive for several seasons 

 past, for in some localities at least there are indications that 

 they will be less abundant next year. In the region about Dur- 

 ham there were heavy and long continued rains during the 

 time when the caterpillars were hatching from the eggs and 

 before they had time to spin for themselves a protecting web. 

 The result was that a large proportion of the young larv« 



