10 



The Western Pomolo^ist and Gardener. 



1872 



terns for them its shape, 'though the tents all much resemble each other in their general 

 appearance. At first these tents are small, but as the larvm increase in size the tents grow 

 larger and more conspicuous, until the larniB has attained its full size, at which time the 

 tents or nests consist of several layers, with spaces left between each of the layers to admit 

 of the caterpillars passing between them. At the angles of the nests which occur simul- 

 taneously with the limbs of the tree, openings or doors are left in the nest from which, on 

 A B 



the upper sides of the limbs are webbed roads made wherever the caterpillars may have 

 traveled out in search for food. Their houses are not only constructed of silk, but their 

 roads are carpeted. When very young these carpeted roads on the limits are not so 

 readily noticed, but gradually, from day to day they increase, as the caterpillar spins a 

 thread wherever it travels. The nests when completed are from eight to ten inches in 

 diameter. 



Although only about one tenth of an inch in length when hatched, the larva of this tent- 

 catapillar in the course of five or six weeks grows to be about one inch and three-quar- 



C B 



ters long. During this period, which is the active and damaging period of its existence, 

 it voraciously feeds upon the leaves of the apple, plum, cherry, tame and wild, the 

 thorn, and occasionally on the pear, the poach and the rose, the latter very rarely, how- 

 ever. During this time it sheds four skins. Contrary to the ideas of many they are not 

 blind, but can see. Their eyes are very small, consisting of ten minute black spots, five 

 on each side of the head. This larvce is hairy, color black, white, blue and rufous, a good 

 representation is here with given at B a sideview, and A back view. 



When full grown the lanm of the tent caterpillar partially ceases to be gregrarious — to 

 live congregated in one large family ; and each individual then hunts out for itself a desi- 

 rable place, such as the corner by the side of a fence post where the board is attached, a 

 crevice, or some such convenient location wherein it may fasten its cocoon on two sides. 

 Having found the desired place for this work, it attaches its hind feet and commences the 

 making of the silken house wherein it passes into the chryalis state. At the commence- 

 ment of the making of the coccon the the texture is light and open, but as it grows nearer 

 finished the texture gets closer, until it resembles fine cloth. In this condition the insect 

 can yet be seen, but on account of the exudation of a yellow substance from the lanm the 

 inner surface of the cocoon is covered and the insect is completely hidden from sight. At 



is a representation of the cocoon made by the C. Americana, which is of a yellow color. 

 After remaining in the chrysalis state about twenty days, which brings the season along 

 to the last days of July, in each year, the C. Americana comes out, and is known as the 

 American Lackey moth, which, when fully developed, is about one inch and a half from 

 tip to tip of the wings. It is of a pale brick-red color, with two oblique whitish lines 

 across the fore wings ; occasionally, however individuals are seen a shade darker, of an 

 ashy-brown color. This moth eats nothing during its existence, which is only three or four 



