132 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



trampling them under foot. Spraying with Paris green is also 

 effective, but poison should be used with caution on bearing 

 trees. It is said that ichmeumons are parasitic upon them and 

 hold them in check. 



THE CECROPiA EMPEROR MOTH. Platysamia cecropia, Linn. 



This is a native species and the largest moth found in the 

 United States. It is widely spread and a general feeder. It is 

 a well known apple insect, and, though not abundant, attracts 

 attention on account of its large size and voracious appetite. It 

 has been reported in its various stages from every part of Maine. 



Description. 



Eggs. — Nearly one-tenth of an inch long, almost round, dull creamy 

 white, with a reddish streak near the middle. 



Larva. — When first hatched, black with shining black knobs on the 

 body from which arise black hairs. It molts several times in coming to 

 maturity. When full grown it is from three to four inches long and pale 

 green. There are coral red warts on the third and fourth segments, 

 yellow warts on the back of the other segments, except those on the 

 second and terminal, which are blue like the smaller tubercles on the side. 



Cocoons. — About three inches long, pod-shaped, rusty grey or 

 brown and firmly attached to one side of a twig. Composed of two 

 layers of silk, an outer loose, papery, fibrous one and a densely woven 

 inner one which contains the brown chrysalis. 



Perfect Insect. — A moth with from five to seven inches spread of wing. 

 Both the front and hind legs are rich brown. About the middle of each 

 wing is a kidney-shaped white spot shaded with red and margined with 

 black. Near the tips of the fore wings is an eye-like spot containing a 

 bluish white crescent. 



Life History. 

 The moth lays from two to three hundred eggs, usually in 

 pairs, firmly fastened to the under side of the leaves of the host 

 plant. The eggs hatch in a week to ten days, the young larvae 

 first feeding on the empty egg-shells. They have a ravenous 

 appetite, grow rapidly, and consume a large amount of food. 

 When nearly mature, a few on a young apple tree may in short 

 time strip it of leaves. The larvae, when full grown in the fall, 

 spin their cocoons, attaching them to the twigs of shrubs or trees 

 on which they feed. Their great size makes them conspicuous 

 objects after the leaves fall. The following spring, in May or 



