MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



25 



Cecropia Moth. 

 (Samia cecropia.) 



The large gray or brown cocoon of the Cecropia moth is fre- 

 quently found attached to the twigs of trees (fig. 37). 



Fig. 7. (From Me. Agr. Exp. Sta. Circular). 



These are spun late in August or September by a green cater- 

 pillar about four inches long. The body of the caterpillar is 

 ornate with colored bead-like tubercles, the two pairs nearest 

 the head being red with black spines, and the other dorsal tuber- 

 cles smaller and yellow. Along the sides of the body the tuber- 

 cles are bluish, (fig. 7), 



After the cocoon is spun the caterpillar changes to the pupa, 

 a dark brown object which may be found by opening one of 

 the cocoons during the winter. 



In the spring the insect breaks open the brown pupal skin 

 and emerges from the cocoon as the adult insect, the largest 

 moth in the state and one of the most beautiful. Its expanded 

 wings measure about five and one half inches. In color the 

 wings are brownish with a border of gray and submarginal 

 lines of white and red. The form of the markings is better 

 represented by the accompanying illustration than by a descrip- 

 tion. 



The caterpillar is well attended by insect parasites and is 

 devoured by birds. In this State it has not occurred to a 



