INSECT NOTES. 263 



dling adjacent beeches. The larvae here were not quite full 

 fed and the sound of their jaws together with that of falling 

 bits of leaves and castings was like the sound of a rain storm. 

 They were also at work on oak and apple at South Leeds but 

 not to such an extent as on the maple and beech. 



The larva resembles closely H. mantco and H. bilineata and 

 the species was not definitely determined from this form. By 

 keeping the pupae moist and warm in the laboratory, however, 

 adults began to emerge Dec. 3, 1907, and these were kindly 

 determined by Doctor H. G. Dyar as H. guttivitta Walk. 



The specimens taken in Maine this season presented the 

 greatest variety of dorsal color patterns in white, green, and 

 brownish purple. All the color variations faded in the full 

 fed larvae, however, and before pupating the body of the- cater- 

 pillar was dull green with almost all trace of other color oblit- 

 erated except the dark side lines of the head. Three specimens 

 are shown in Figs. 39, 40, 41. 



The weather in the southern part of the State, unlike the rest 

 of Maine was very dry this season and seemed to be particularly 

 favorable for caterpillar growth. Numerous other species were 

 at work during August and the "green striped maple cater- 

 pillar," Dryocampa rubicunda, defoliated maples in certain local- 

 ities. See Fig. 38. 



Forest Tent Caterpillar. 



The Forest Tent Caterpillar, Clisiocampa disstria, has been 

 in the increase in the State for 2 seasons, especially in the 

 vicinity of Blaine and Mapleton, and though it is not yet very 

 generally troublesome, it seems to be getting ready for one of 

 its periodical outbreaks. A circular of information is in prepa- 

 ration for this species in order that the danger may be appre- 

 ciated in localities where this caterpillar is gaining ground. The 

 devastations of the forest tent caterpillar of 1889 and 1890 * are 

 plainly remembered by people living along the Penobscot and 

 in the vicinity of Seboeis, who still refer to "the caterpillar 

 year." 



* Me. Agr. Exp. Sta. Report 1889, p. 188; 1890, p. 138. 



