90 THE FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR 



hook-like claw at the tip. Along the middle of the body are 

 four pairs of thicker prolegs, and at the hind end is another 

 pair of prolegs. 



Pupa. — The pupa when removed from the cocoon is a 

 brownish object without legs or wings or other external 

 organs. It is about three-fourths of an inch long by one-fourth 

 broad at its widest part, althougli the male pupa is noticeably 

 smaller than that of the female. 



Alotks. — An idea of the general appearance of the moths 

 may be obtained from Fig. 23 which represents the male, and 

 Fig. 25 which represents the female, both natural size. As 

 will be seen the former is the smaller. The general color is a 

 buft' brown with an oblique band of a deeper tint across each 

 front wing. The '^ feelers" or antennye of both sexes are 

 feathery, those of the male being the broader. 



NAMES 



The accepted scientific name of this species is Cllsiocampa 

 disstria^ although it was formerly called C. sylvatica. Its 

 common name, Forest Tent Caterpillar, is not very satisfac- 

 tory, because, first, tiie insects are as likely to be found in 

 apple orchards as in forests, and, second, they do not make 

 tents in the complete sense that the nearly-related American 

 Tent Caterpillar does. But the insect has always been called 

 the Forest Tent Caterpillar in our literature, and the name 

 may as well be retained until one more satisfactory is sug- 

 gested. 



Many people have been needlessly alarmed by the thought 

 that this was the famous Gvpsy Moth Caterpillar. It has 

 nothing to do with that notorious insect, although it may well 

 serve as an illustration of what would be likely to take place if 

 the Gypsv Moth should become widespread. 



NATURAL ENEMIES 



These Forest Tent Caterpillars are preyed upon by many 

 natural enemies, including insects, spiders, toads, and birds. 

 Among the more important insect enemies are certain ichneu- 

 mon flies, similar to Fig. 30, wdiich deposit eggs within the 

 bodies of the caterpillars. These eggs hatch into grubs that 



