LARGE CATERPILLARS EATING THE LEAVES 269 



pure kerosene, taking care not to get this on the surrounding foHage. 

 Spraying the foHage with Paris green or arsenate of lead will easily 



poison the caterpillars. 



The Forest Tent Caterpillar 

 (Malacosoma disstria Hbn.) 

 The conniion name of this species 



is misleading, for it does not construct 



a tent. It is, however, closely related 



to the tent cater- 

 pillar, and has ac- 

 quired a similar 



name. While often 



a forest pest, it 



is apt to attack 



fruit tree foliage 



as well, and may 



strip the trees 



when abundant. 

 The full-grown 



caterpillar is two 



inches long, dark 



in color, and has 



a row of conspicu- 



ous, diamond- 

 shaped, 

 white spots 

 down the 

 middle of 

 its back. 

 Eggs are 



Fig. 377. — The Forest Tent 

 Caterpillar. Original. 



Fig. 378. — Egg-mass 

 of the Forest Tent 

 Caterpillar. Orig- 

 inal. 



Fig. 



379. — Adult of the Forest Tent 

 Caterpillar. Original. 



laid in a compact ring around 

 twigs, and covered with a shin- 

 ing varnish. The young cater- 

 pillars appear early in spring. 



