IJJ MAIM-: AtiKll'l I.ITKAI. I'.X I'l'.K I M KNT S'l'A'l'K )\. 



near the outer margin of the Irotit wiiii^s, and three darker, 

 irregular bands, across the same wings, together with the 

 slightly lighter color and absence of markings on the hind 

 wings, are characteristic features. The inconspicuous female 

 niiillis are wingless and, because of tliis fact, the spread of the 

 species is very slow, occurring mainl}- 1)\- the transportation of 

 nursery stock infested with eggs. 



The moths usual))- emerge from the ground early in the 

 spring — about April, or farther south, in March — and the 

 females climb up the trunks of trees to deposit eggs. The 

 eggs, which are shaped something like hens eggs and are about 

 the size of "fly specks,'' are deposited in irregular masses, 

 usually partially concealed by loose pieces of bark. They 

 hatch about the time the leaves unfold ; the time varying with 

 the locality and the season. The young ]arv?e are voracious 

 feeders and they grow rapidly, usually attaining full size in 

 from three to four weeks from the time of hatching. Upon 

 reaching full size they drop to the ground, burrowing beneath 

 the surface to a depth of two to five inches. Here each one 

 forms a cell, lined with silk which it spins, and soon transforms 

 to the chrysalis stage, where it remains until the following 

 spring, when the adult moth emerges as before. 



THE FALL CAXKER-woRM. — ( AlsopkHa povictaria.) 



The fall canker-worm so closely resembles the other species 



as to be frequentl}- mistaken for it. For all practical purposes 



they may be considered together, but the fall canker-worm is 



more distinctively a northern insect. As in the other species. 



;^ the female moth (see figure 

 39 b) is wingless, but in this 

 species she lacks the hair- 

 iness which characterizes 

 the other. The male 



Figure 39-Fall canker worm; a. male moth; b. ,„^tVi /ficrurR ^n r,\ >iac 

 female moth: a-, egg cluster. mOin (UgUrC 39 a) naS 



two light bands across the front wdngs, instead of the single 

 one of the preceding, and the rear wings are slightly shaded. 

 The larvae of this species also, besides having three pairs of 

 legs under the hind end of the body, as shown in figure 40 /i 



