APPLE INSECTS OF MAINE. I23 



brood in eight days. As soon as the caterpillars hatch they spin 

 a small silken web which soon becomes conspicuous. Under 

 this they feed together, upon the upper surface of the leaves. 

 As they grow, other leaves and branches are included until the 

 web reaches considerable size and contains dead leaves and the 

 molt skins of the larvee. If their food supply gives out, they 

 quit the web and drop to the ground and crawl directly toward 

 other trees with almost unerring instinct, or, when disturbed, 

 let themselves down by a thread and by this regain the tree when 

 the danger is past. 



When full grown they are nearly two inches long and leave 

 the web and wander about for suitable places to spin their 

 cocoons. They select crevices in bark, the angles of tree boxes, 

 rubbish about the base of trees, and other similar situations, 

 while the fall brood prefer to bury themselves in the earth if 

 possible, but adapt them elves to circumstances. They soon 

 spin their cocoons. The pupae contained in these hatch into the 

 second brood of moths about the first of August, and the moths 

 lay eggs which hatch into caterpillars that feed, mature, and spin 

 their cocoons during August and September. The insects 

 invariably spend the winter in the chrysalis state in the cocoon, 

 and the following spring the moths emerge and lay their eggs, 

 thus completing the life history. 



Remedies. 



Spray with Paris green before the insect makes much head- 

 way. If there are but few webs on the tree, cut off the branches 

 and burn. Another effective remedy is a strong alkali, whale 

 oil soap, or washing powder solution applied with a swab. 



There are several predaceous insects which attack the larvae, 

 the most important being the spined soldier bug, Podisus 

 spinosus (Dallas). 



THE LIME TREE WINTER MOTH. Hyhemia tUlaria, Harris. 



This is a native species often associated with the fall canker 

 worm, which it resembles very much in its life history. It seems 

 to remain and do damage when the fall canker worm has dis- 

 appeared. 



