REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST, 1898 195 



Life history and habits. The life history and habits of this species 

 are very similar to those of the preceding form. The winter is passed by 

 the fully developed larvae in the egg, as stated by several writers. With 

 the appearance of the first warm weather, the caterpillars emerge and if 

 no food is at hand, await the appearance of the leaves. While small 

 they remain together, but as they approach maturity the individuals scat- 

 ter in much the same way as the apple-tree tent caterpillars, though 

 nearly full grown larvae, specially when preparing to molt, may be seen 

 in large clusters covering a portion of the trunk as do those of the gypsy 

 moth, Poj'thctria dispar Linn. Such an assemblage is really a pretty sight 

 if one has an eye for the beautiful in nature. The larvae do not become 

 full grown till somewhat later than the apple-tree tent caterpillars. As 

 a general rule they wander everywhere the first part of June and disap- 

 pear by the middle of the month, though I have observed numbers 

 feeding the latter part of June and have seen them in the early part of 

 July. The cocoons resemble those of C. americana very closely, and are 

 found in similar places, except that the habits of this species necessitate 

 the pupation of the larger proportion in forests. The duration of the 

 pupa state is about two weeks. The moths appear the latter part of 

 June and during July. Dr Dyar records taking this species at electric 

 lights in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1890, from Jime 20 to August 4, the 

 adults being most abundant July 2 and 9. 



Distribution. The numerous records of serious injury by this insect 

 in the eastern United States and Canada indicate that it is widely and 

 generally distributed. It has been reported from Mississippi north into 

 Canada and from Maine westward to California. Dr Dyar states (see 

 citation) that C. disstria extends throughout the range of C. americana 

 and C. pliivialis and also into California. 



Food plants. Like the apple-tree tent caterpillar, this species can 

 subsist on a large variety of plants. Its favorite species of oak in the 

 southern states, as stated by Dr Riley, are those belonging to the same 

 group as the black oak. In New York and adjoining states this insect 

 is reported more frequently as defoliating the sugar maple than any other 

 tree. This injury may be owing to the fact that large sugar orchards 

 afford the most favorable conditions for the caterpillars in the north, and 

 as the maples are of greater value than forest trees, complaints of attack 

 are more frequent. The caterpillars have been reported by various writers 

 as feeding upon the following trees and shrubs : linden, maples, locust, 

 peach, plum, cherry, rose, strawberry, apple, sweet gum {Liqmdambar 



