26 



MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



troublesome extent and need not be feared as a pest, although 

 it feeds on apple and various forest trees. No remedies usually 

 seem necessary. If the caterpillars are found upon a small 

 tree which they are likely to injure, hand picking will prove 

 effectual. 



Those who find the Cecropia cocoons during the winter are 

 often interested to save them in a warm room for the sake of 

 observing the beautiful moth which emerges (fig. 8). 



Fig. 8. (From Me. Agr. Exp. Sta. Circular). 



Yellow-Necked Caterpillar. 

 (Datana ministra.) 



During the late summer the yellow-necked caterpillar is a 

 common orchard pest in Maine. 



The moth is tannish brown in color with head and the part 

 of the thorax nearest the head a rich chestnut brown. Several 

 dark brown lines cross the fore wings transversely. The hind 

 wings are pale buff. The female moth deposits about ioo eggs 

 in a cluster on a leaf. 



The caterpillars which hatch from these eggs, attain their 

 full growth in 5 or 6 weeks. They are then about two inches 

 long. The head is black and the segment just back of the 

 head is orange colored, a character which gives rise to the 



