THE FOREST TENT-CATERPILLAR. 

 Clisiocampa disstria Hiibn. 

 Order Lepidoptera. Family Lasiocampid^. 



CLASSIFICATION AND NAME. 



Classification. — As indicated by its scientific name the forest 

 tent-caterpillar belongs to the same genus, and hence to the same 

 otder and family as the apple-tree tent-caterpillar discussed in 

 Bulletin 152 of this Station. The two species are closely related 

 and have many similar habits. 



Scientific name. — The species was originally described by 

 Hiibner/ probably in 1822, as Malacosoma disstria, but was later 

 referred to the genus Clisiocampa established by Curtis in 1828. 



Pofitdar name. — The popular name "Forest T6it-Caterpillar " 

 or as occasionally given " The Tent- Caterpillar of the Forest " is 

 in reality a misnomer for the caterpillars seldom spin a true tent 

 although they have the habit of leaving a thread of silk wherever 

 they go. It has also been referred to by some writers as the 

 " Forest Caterpillar." 



HISTORICAL ACCOUNT. 



The forest tent-caterpillar is considered a native of Eastern 

 North America. We do not know how long it has been depre- 

 dating the forests, but its ravages have been noted for more 

 than a hundred years. One of the first authentic references" 

 to it was in 1797 with which account probably the first figures 

 of the caterpillar and cocoon are given. That the insect 

 was then known to be a very destructive one is indicated by the 

 statement of Mr. Abbott that it "is sometimes so plentiful in 

 Virginia as to strip the oak trees bare. " As a natural result of 



'Verzeichniss bekannter Schmetterlinge, p. 122. 

 'Smi til and Abbott. Insects of Georgia, p. 117. 



