INSECTS OF CONNECTICUT. 3! 



through four distinct stages in their life cycle ; namely, egg, 

 larva, pupa, imago. (See Fig. 2.) 



We are all familiar with the egg of the potato beetle, which 

 is laid on the under side of the leaf. Of many different forms 

 are the eggs of the various kinds of insects, some being globular, 

 some elongated, some smooth, others elaborately sculptured and 



Chrysalis or pupa Caterpillar 



FIG. 2. The four stages in the life cycle of an insect: Gypsy moth, Porthetria 

 dispar. All figures natural size. 



very handsome. Most of them are of small size, some laid 

 singly and others in large masses. The eggs of flies hatch in 

 a few hours ; but the eggs of the tent caterpillar (Malacosoma 

 americana Harr.), shown in Fig. 3, and of the gypsy moth 

 (Porthetria dispar Linn.), shown in Fig. 2, remain on the trees 

 from July to the following May, or about nine months, before 

 hatching. These cases well represent the extremes to be found 



