782 CONNECTICUT EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT, I907-I908. 



while in adjoining towns no damage could be seen. During 

 1908, the most severe injury occurred near the coast, though the 

 insect was present locally in the northern portions of the state. 



Description. 

 Spring Canker Worm, Paleacrita vernata Peck. 



Egg. Laid in irregular masses which, according to Quain- 

 tance,* contain from seventeen to one hundred and nineteen eggs, 

 with an average of forty-seven. Usually in secreted places in 

 the crevices of the bark. The shell is thin, delicate, and of a 

 light brown color, but more or less iridescent. About 0.7 mm. 

 in length, and two-thirds as broad as long. See Plate XLIV b. 



Larva or Caterpillar. The larva or caterpillar is slender, about 

 three-fourths of an inch long when full grown, and is longi- 

 tudinally striped with fine pale lines. The general color is dark 

 gray or brownish. The most distinguishing feature, however, 

 is that no pro-legs are borne on the eighth segment, there being 

 in all only two pairs of pro-legs. The head is distinctly mottled 

 and spotted. 



Pupa or Chrysalis. Pupa light brown, about 7 mm. in length, 

 enclosed in a simple earthen cell lined with a few threads of 

 silk. The cell can be easily broken. The pupa is somewhat 

 pitted, the wing sheaths of the male extending to the sixth abdom- 

 inal segment, while those of the female extend only to the rear 

 edge of the fifth segment. The male pupa is tipped with a spine, 

 which is generally simple. See Plate XLIX a. 

 Imago or Adult Moth. 



Male. Wing expanse of from seven-eighths to one and one- 

 fourth inches, antennae with less than forty joints, the longest 

 more than twice as long as wide. Palpi short, two-jointed. 

 Wings brownish gray, semitransparent, the fore wings marked 

 rather indistinctly with three dark lines. A short dark Une also 

 bisects the apical angle of the fore wing. There is no prominent 

 white spot on the costal margin. The rear wings are somewhat 

 lighter and are without markings. Shown on Plate XLVII a. 



Female. Antennae with thirty or more joints, the longest about 

 three times as long as wide. Antennae, legs and body pubescent, 



* Bulletin 68, Bur. of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, p. 18. 



