HABITS OF THE CATERPILLARS Si 



their narrow houses, but when the warm rays of the spring 

 sunshine penetrate their abodes, they eat off the tops of the 

 egg-shells, and come out ready to break their long fast upon 

 the tender foliage of the unfolding buds. 



HABITS OF THE CATERPILLARS 



The caterpillars very commonly emerge from the eggs some 

 time before the leaves of their food-plants push out. Under 

 such conditions the tiny larvae are likely to huddle together 

 upon or near the egg-mass to await the unfolding of the leaves. 

 There seems to be considerable variation in the time of hatch- 

 ing, as larvae of various sizes may be found at any time during 

 the latter part of May or in June. 



When the attack is not severe the caterpillars seem to keep 

 to the upper parts of the tree, especially upon the ends of the 

 outer branches. One correspondent in Sullivan countv. New 

 Hampshire, in sending cocoons July 29, 1897, wrote, "A very 



destructive pest is destroying the 

 foliage of our maple grove. I send 

 you a sample of the nests. There 

 are millions of them. They seem 

 to commence at the top of the 

 tree and eat down. VVe do not 



, ,^ . , „ see the insect at all. They seem 



Fig. 25. Female Moth of Forest -^ 



Tent Caterpillar. Natural size, ^o be hidden through the day at 



least." 



In this instance the damage had evidently been done before 

 the presence of the insect was known. Consequently it seems 

 worth while for the owners of maple or other groves to keep a 

 sharp watch upon their trees this season, even if heretofore 

 they have not been injured. 



When the caterpillars are disturbed while feeding upon the 

 leaves or crawling along the twigs they have a habit of drop- 

 ping downward, checking the fall by means of a thread spun 

 from the mouth and attached to the twig. Thus suspended in 

 mid-air they are very annoying to foot-passengers in villages or 

 to people riding along shaded roads in town or country ; for to 

 find yourself suddenly confronted by a dozen caterpillars on 

 the level of your face is disconcerting. 



