514 COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE 



THE ANTLERED MAPLE CATERPILLAR. 

 Heterocampa guttivitta Walker. 



C. F. JACKSON. 



Of the many insect enemies of our forest and shade trees, 

 perhaps none has caused more general alarm during the past 

 year than the Antlered Maple Caterpillar. Being comparatively 

 unknown by people in the state, its sudden appearance and the 

 complete defoliation of large tracts of valuable woodland were 

 sufficient to alarm not only the lumbermen but also the sum- 

 mer residents and farmers. 



So far as known this insect has never before attracted atten- 

 tion or caused any appreciable damage, except in Maine in 1907. 

 In fact, on an extended trip through the infested region but one 

 or two persons could be found who remembered ever having 

 seen the caterpillar before. 



To the entomologist, however, this species is not new, the 

 adult having been described as early in 1855 by Walker in the 

 "Catalogue , of the Lepidoptera of the British Museum," and 

 named, Cecrita guttivitta. Later (1880) the larva was first de- 

 scribed by French. In 1895 Packard gave an extended account 

 of the life history and distribution in his "Monograph of the 

 Bombycine Moths." He notes that the larvae feed on a variety 

 of trees, but up to that time had not been numerous enough to 

 attract any attention. The first serious outbreak seems to have 

 been In Maine within the last three years, when great areas of 

 valuable forest were defoliated, (1907. Patch, E. M., Me. Agr. 

 Exp. Sta., Bull. 148.), while In New York considerable damage 

 resulted from attacks of this insect during 1907. Judging 

 from these facts it seems plausible that this pest has been 

 gradually increasing within New Hampshire until the present 

 year, which has been unusually well adapted for its develop- 

 ment. 



Geneeai, Desoeiption and Lue Histoet. 



The adult form of the Antlered Maple Caterpillar may be 

 described as a mottled-gray moth densely covered with scales, 

 and the wings marked with scalloped cross bands. The moth 

 Is of medium size, and when resting on dead leaves is scarcely 

 visible so perfect is its protective coloration. Like the remain- 

 der of this group it Isi nocturnal in Its habits, flying only at 

 night, at which time the eggs are probably deposited. Con- 



