40 



sweet gum ; Berberidacem, barberry ; Cupuliferee, beech, birch, 

 oak ; Oleacets, ash, fringe tree ; Tiliacecz, linden; Salicacece, poplar, 

 willow ; Sapindacece, maple, horsechestnut ; Cornacece, sour gum ; 

 JuglandacecB, hickory, walnut ; Saxifragacea, currant ; Capri-; 

 foliacecs,&ier\i\\aL, honeysuckle; tlrticacecB, elm ; Leguminosa, pea, 

 locust ; Magnoliacem, magnolia; Vitacece, woodbine. 



During the past season the caterpillars have been especially 

 destructive to sugar maples. Next to the maples they seemed to 

 prefer basswood and elm, but in some localities were especially 

 destructive to poplar and oak. At Little Falls, N. Y., the writer 

 observed them feeding upon iron wood iOstryid), {a.m.ily Cupul/fereg,, 

 making a food-plant additional to the above list. 



DESCRIPTIONS AND I<IFE-HISTORY. 



TAe egg. — The eggs are laid close together forming bands 

 which encircle the twigs. These bands or masses are abruptly 

 cut off on the edges and in this the egg-masses of this species 

 differ from those of the apple-tree tent-caterpillar which are more 

 distinctly oval in outline. The frothy covering* also differs 

 in color being a dull gray instead of brown. As referred to 

 on a subsequent page there is a noticeable variation in their size 

 this year. Plate II, fig. i, is from a photograph of two egg- 

 masses which differ greatly in size. The upper one has the more 

 typical shape. 



The eggs are placed on end side by side with somewhat more 

 regularity than those of the apple-tree tent-caterpillar. According 

 to Riley '^ the female while depositing her eggs " stations herself, 

 for this purpose, in a transverse position across the twig." The 

 egg-laying habits of three females kept by the writer in the labora- 

 tory were carefully noted. The actions of these females indicate 

 that there may be exceptions to the habits observed by Dr. Riley; 

 for none of them placed themselves in a transverse position across 

 the twig, but stood lengthwise of it or nearly so, and moved 

 sidewise while depositing the eggs. When one row was finished 

 the next was immediately commenced. The eggs were placed 

 very close together. With each egg an abundance of frothy 



'3 Araer. Ent. and Bot., 2: 261. 



