NOTES ON INSECTS. 39 



"When the caterpillars are clone feeding they change to pupae 

 among the leaves, two or more often transforming together, 

 spinning an open cocoon of coarse silk. The pupae are about 

 three-fourths of an inch in length, dark brown in color, and 

 with fine yellowish brown hairs scattered over the surface. In 

 a short time the moths emerge from the cocoons and after mat- 

 ing lay their eggs. 



"The males are pure white with a satin-like luster on the fore 

 wings, a reddish brown tuft at the end of the abdomen and some- 

 times there are a few black dots on the fore-wings. The anten- 

 nas are white and fringed with pale yellowish hairs. They 

 measure about an inch and a quarter between the tips of the 

 expanded wings. 



"The females are of the same color as the males, except that 

 they have no black spots on the wings, the anal tuft is larger and 

 lighter in color and the antennas are shorter and have shorter 

 fringes. Expanse of wings, about an inch and three-quarters." 



HABITS OF THE CATERPILLARS. 



The young caterpillars of the brown tail moth, after hiber- 

 nating in the tents which they construct at the tip of the 

 branches, emerge in the spring and feed downward towards the 

 main branches and trunk, leaving the naked twigs bearing the 

 gray tents at the ends, a conspicuous evidence of the presence 

 of this insect. They eat the entire leaf except the midrib, and, 

 in leaves having strong ribs, like those of the sycamore maple, 

 all the larger ribs are left untouched. When the caterpillars are 

 numerous they devour not only the buds, leaves and blossoms, 

 but even the green fruit. 



One of the most annoying features of this caterpillar is the 

 painful irritation or nettling caused by the insects when coming 

 in contact with the skin. The hairs of the caterpillar are brittle 

 and easily become detached, and when they come in contact with 

 the skin, produce a most intense irritation. From this cause 

 many persons have suffered so severely as to require the aid of 

 a physician. The invasion of houses by these insects is a com- 

 mon occurrence, and not unfrequently they make their way into 

 the sleeping apartments . 



