INSECT NOTES. 353 



The Saddled Prominent, Heterocampa guttivitta Walk. 



By far the greatest amount of damage caused by any single 

 species this season was due to the saddled prominent caterpillar. 

 So enormous was the work of this insect that it seemed expe- 

 dient to discuss it in a bulletin * by itself and it is mentioned 

 here merely to include it among the insects of the year. A news- 

 paper circular from this station was sent into the districts most 

 infested about the middle of July, with a description of the pest 

 and such remedies as were applicable to shade and orchard trees. 



Associated with the saddled prominent the two species next 

 to be mentioned were present in greatest numbers. 



The Rosy-Striped Oak-Worm, Anisota virginiensis 

 (pellucida). Lot 309. 



Found feeding upon several trees but everywhere especially 

 upon the oak which they completely strip, is a darker relative 

 of the green-striped maple worm. In many localities the work 

 of the saddled prominent was greatly augmented by these two 

 caterpillars. This oak worm is variable as to color but in gen- 

 eral it may be described as a dark grey or greenish larva with 

 dull brownish yellow or often brick red lateral stripes, and the 

 skin is dotted with small white warts. A row of short black 

 spines occurs on each segment and there are two long spines 

 on the second thoracic segment. The winter is passed in the 

 pupa similar to that of the maple-worm and in the same situa- 

 tion, — among fallen leaves beneath the trees the caterpillars 

 have stripped. 



The moth emerges early in June. Professor Comstock's 

 description is quoted : 



"The wings of the female are purplish red, blended with 

 ochre-yellow; they are very thinly scaled, and consequently 

 almost transparent ; and are not speckled with small dark spots. 

 The wings of the male are purplish brown, with a large trans- 

 parent space on the middle." The male is considerably smaller 

 than the female. 



Figures 41, 42 and 43 represent the caterpillar and the moth 

 of this species. 



* Maine Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin No. 161. 



