THE SADDLED PROMINENT. 327 



of stripped trees and it was in such places that the predaceous 

 Podisus (see Fig. 37) was seen to be busy stabbing the larvae 

 and the pile of dead and half sucked caterpillars at the bases 

 of trees where these bugs were at work gave good evidence of 

 their appetites. Some larvae were dying evidently from 

 exhaustion and starvation after traveling up and down many 

 trees and finding no food. Nearer the outskirts of the devas- 

 tated area the caterpillars were faring better as they got off into 

 fresh growth and were feeding vigorously. Those which were 

 observed were in their fifth (last) instar. 



July 24. Sebago Lake, Cape Raymond. The caterpillars 

 were in their fifth instar, healthy and feeding. 



July 27. Norridgewock. Caterpillars in the fifth instar, 

 some feeding and some pupating, for the most part healthy. 



July 28. Mercer. Pupated in some localities. In others 

 caterpillars in the fifth instar feeding, a few beginning to die. 

 (See a contagious fungus disease p. 344). 



July 31-August 1. Norridgewock. Some healthy cater- 

 pillars feeding; many sick and dying. 



August 3-4. Mercer. Dead caterpillars present by thou- 

 sands and only a few live ones seen in two days. 



Aug. 5-7. Norridgewock. Collection of pupae which were 

 in certain localities numerous. 



August 8. Sebago Lake. Heterocampa guttivitta had 

 already pupated in apparently healthy shape. Other species of 

 larvae which were about at the time were fungus attacked. 



August 10. East Sangerville. Caterpillars still feeding, 

 though many were full fed in this locality July 26. 



August 14. Buckfield. Larvae still feeding. 



SEASONAL HISTORY SUMMARY. 



For Maine the saddled prominent has but one brood. The 

 moths in 1908 emerged in greatest numbers late in May and 

 early in June. Oviposition begins soon after mating which 

 occurs the first night after emergence. — The eggs hatch in about 

 9 days and the larvae become full grown in 5 weeks (or more 

 according to weather conditions and food supply). During this 

 time they molt four times. The full grown larvae enter the 

 ground for pupation. In Maine this season pupation took place 

 from mid July to late August, the majority of larvae burying 



