22 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



ings just behind the head, on the third abdominal segment and near 

 the posterior extremity. The markings vary much in different 

 larvae, there usually being a broad, reddish brown area, frequently 

 forked anteriorly, just behind the head and extending to the first 

 abdominal segment and an irregularly expanded area on the third 

 abdominal segment. The reddish markings at the posterior ex- 

 tremity are more variable, sometimes being rudimentary. The full 

 grown larva is about an inch and a half long, has a rather small 

 head, with the body increasing in size to the fourth abdominal 

 segment,, from which it tapers ; the posterior extremity being slender, 

 usually elevated and the last pair of abdominal legs extending 

 behind as two small divergent processes. 



Pupa. The pupa is rather short, thick, stout, about ^ of an 

 inch long and with a pair of short, stout, angulate appendages at 

 the posterior extremity. 



Life history. This species, according to Dr Packard, deposits 

 eggs at Brunswick, J\Ie., as early as July 3, the larvae hatching 

 therefrom by the nth or 12th. The young caterpillars feed for 

 a time on the under side of the leaf, at first eating away small, 

 irregular patches. The first stage lasts about nine days, the second 

 probably four or five days. Full growth is attained in about a 

 month, though belated individuals may occur as late as the end 

 of September. The larva, when annoyed, has a habit of jerking 

 its head suddenly from side to side as though trying to drive 

 away some assailant. This species appears to live by preference 

 on sugar maple, red maple and oak, though it has also been taken 

 on apple, chestnut, beech and viburnum. Miss Patch records beech 

 as a preferred food plant in Maine. 



Distribution, This insect appears to have a wide distribution, 

 it having been recorded from Florida and Georgia, north and east- 

 ward through Maine to St John's Bluff and westward as far as 

 Fort Collins, Col. Dr Packard states that it is a rare species in 

 Colorado. 



Natural enemies. These caterpillars are subject to attack by 

 a number of predaceous forms. Miss Patch states that in Maine 

 the fiery ground beetle, Calosoma calidum Fabr., was very 

 abundant about the base of infested trees and that one of the soldier 

 bugs, P o d i s u s m o d e s t u s Dall., was quite active in destroy- 

 ing the pests. 



Remedial measures. The discussion of remedial measures 

 given in our account of the green striped maple worm, A n i s o t a 

 rubicunda Fabr., would apply with equal force to this species. 



