MOTHS OF THE LIMBERLOST 



find not the slightest trace of spinning or adhesion other 

 than by force. 



With one of these balls lifted and divided, we decided 

 what happened underground by detaining a caterpillar 

 on the surface and forcing it to transform before us, for 

 this change is not optional. When the time comes the 

 pupa must evolve. So the caterpillar lies on the earth, 

 gradually growing shorter, the skin appearing dry and 

 the horns drooping. There never is a trace of spinning or 



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v«fM 



CAKOLINA 



mrnw-^' -rj^ 



PUPA CASE OF FEBDEK AND NON-FEEDER 



HEGALIS 



acid ejected in the sand buckets. When the change is 

 completed there begins a violent twisting and squirming. 

 The caterpillar skin opens in a straight line just behind 

 the head on the back, and by working with the pointed 

 abdomen the pupa case emerges. The cast skin rapidly 

 darkens, and as I never have found a trace of it in an 

 opened earth ball in the spring, I suppose it disintegrates 

 rapidly, or what is more possible, is eaten by small borers 

 that swarm through the top six inches of the earth's crust. 



64 



