182 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



In 1890, Dr Dyar has recorded taking the moths at electric lights in 

 Poiighkeepsie, N. Y., from June 14 to July 17, the larger number occur- 

 ring between June 20 and July 2. 



During"this period of flight the eggs are deposited in bands or belts 

 around the smaller twigs, the number in a band ranging from 300 to 330 

 according to Dr Fitch. 



Food plants. The wild cherry, Prunus serotina, is undoubtedly the 

 favorite food plant of the tent caterpillars, since the examples along the 

 roadsides suffer more or less from year to year and are frequently defo- 

 liated by this pest. The apple appears to rank next in the estimation of 

 the caterpillars, judging from the severe attacks made upon it yearly. 

 This insect feeds on a large number of plants, though severe injury is 

 usually confined to those named above, and closely related species. It 

 has been reported by various authors upon the following : barberry, 

 New Jersey tea (^Ceanothiis americanus), sugar maple, plum, peach, sev- 

 eral species of cherry, rose, thorn (probably Crataegus), shad-bush, pear, 

 apple, mountain ash, witch hazel, elm, oak (probably several species) 

 several species of birch, willow and poplar. Some of these are undoubt- 

 edly eaten only under exceptional circumstances, and others sustain 

 serious injury occasionally. Dr C. M. Weed, of Durham, N. H., gives 

 illustrations of a severe attack on a birch and an oak in a recent bulletin. 



Distribution. This insect appears to be generally distributed 

 throughout the eastern United States, and extends north into Canada. 

 CUsiocampa fragilis Stretch is given by Dr Dyar as the representative of 

 C. americana from the Rocky mountains to the Sierras and from Canada 

 to Mexico, and it in turn is represented in the Pacific northwest by C. 

 pluvialis Dyar. 



Natural enemies. This species is attacked by a number of parasi- 

 tic and predaceous insects and is also subject to a fungus disease, but in 

 spite of these checks the caterpillars are frequently very abundant. 

 Among the most important true parasites may be mentioned Funpla 

 pedalis Cres., a species which Dr Fernald has bred in great numbers 

 from the cocoons. It was so abundant that he obtained only 25 moths 

 from about two quarts of cocoons. Many Qx:\xn\:>\QS o{ Phnpla conqtiisitor 

 Say were reared from the pupae of this insect by Dr C. M. Weed. 

 According to Dr Howard, the latter species is found from California to 

 New Jersey and south to the Gulf of Mexico and has been recorded 

 from Canada. He classes it as one of the most important parasites of 

 the cotton-worm in the south, and as it preys on a number of injurious 



