ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ONTARIO. 53 



a week). After the third, the larva (fig. 55) presents all the striking characters which make 

 it so readily identified. The head, and the spots on the 9th and 10th segments area 

 bright red color ; the back is black, with yellow lines along the sides ; the body is sparsely 

 covered with long, pale yellow hairs, giving the caterpillars a yellowish appearance. Four 

 cream colored dense tufts of hair form a row upon the back of the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th 

 segments ; while from each side of the head a long black tuft extends forward, and a single 

 one projects backward from the posterior end of the body. 



The young caterpillars soon after hatching scatter over the trees, feeding upon the 

 leaves ; when disturbed, they drop by a silken thread to the ground, wander about, many 

 ascending the tree again. 



Having reached full development, which takes about six weeks, during which 

 they have reached a little over an inch in length, they enter the pupa stage (figs. 52 

 and 53), which lasts less than two weeks. The cocoon of the male is whitish, or yellowish, 

 and very thin ; while that of the female is much larger, of a gray coior, and firmer 

 texture. The male chrysalis is brownish, and shows rudimentary wings ; the female is 

 much larger, and shows no wing sheaths. 



The cocoons may be found in crevices of the bark on the trunk, and large limbs, or in 

 sheltered spots near where the caterpillars have been feeding. In Toronto the trunks of 

 the trees were in some cases almost covered with them, and very many could be found 

 beneath the window sills and the top boards of fences. 



In about a week the imago appears. The male moth (fig. 54) is winged, and measures 

 about 1^ inches across the expanded wings; has feathery antennae and very hairy front 

 legs. The general color is ash-grey ; the front wings are crossed by heavy bands of darker 

 shade, with two black markings on the outer edge, near the tip, and a white spot on the 

 inner edge, also near the tip. The writer succeeded in getting very few of the males, but 

 numerous females. 



The female (fig. 51) is wingless, of a pale gray color ; short antennae, not feathered. 

 She is scarcely able to walk. Soon after emerging from the cocoon she begins to lay her eggs 

 upon the old cocoon, and covers them with a frothy substance ; as soon as this is done her 

 life work ends, she drops exhausted and dies. The winter is usually spent in the egg 

 stage, when clusters of them may be seen upon the trees. 



Much depends on the season whether there will be one or two broods (a brood 

 occupies about two months in completing its development). 



Natural remedies. — Yery few birds care to swallow this hairy caterpillar ; the only 

 ones that seem to feed upon it are the rcbin, Baltimore oriole, and the yellow-billed 

 cuckoo. Some bugs (Prionidus cristatus) occasionally attack it. A large number of 

 parasites follow in its trail, and do good work in checking its increase. 



A great many ichneumons ( Pimpla inquisitor) developed among the cocoons brought 

 from Toronto for further examination. 



Two Tachina flies also were developed in the cages. They resembled those of the 

 army worm, but were smaller, 



Artificial remedies. — 1. Spraying with Paris green mixture (1 lb in 150-200 gallons 

 of water) will destroy the caterpillars feeding upon the leaves. If there is any danger 

 of injuring the foliage, 1 lb. to 160 gallons of water, to which is added 1 lb. of quicklime, 

 may be used. 



2. Gather the eggs in winter, as they are very conspicuous at that time, and may be 

 readily destroyed. 



3. Bands of adhesive material may be painted around the trunk. These will pre- 

 vent the caterpillars ascending the tree. 



This caterpillar, though capable of doing much injury, is not considered to be a 

 difficult one to control. Spraying as above is very effective, and this followed by collect- 

 ing and destroying egg masses when the leaves have fallen, cannot fail to be successful. 



