FISHERIES, GAME AND FORESTS. 37^ 



shaped, whitish spots down the middle of the back, while its close relative possesses 

 a narrow whitish stripe in place of the dots. The egg belts (Plate 1, figure 12) 

 encircling the more slender twigs, are smaller, usually with one or two wrinkles or 

 depressions in the brownish, protective covering, and the ends of the belts are more 

 abrupt than are those of the species usually found on apple trees. An average sized 

 egg belt, collected in Albany, of the forest tent caterpillar contains about 150 eggs. 

 If an egg is opened in September or later, a well developed, nearly black caterpillar 

 with a few whitish hairs may be seen. The recently hatched caterpillars are nearly 

 black with whitish hairs and are found clustered together or traveling along certain 

 silk lined paths. After the second molt, the characteristic row of whitish spots along 

 the back appears and as the caterpillars increase in size, the colors become brighter 

 and more distinct. The white or yellowish white cocoons (Plate 1, figure 14) are 

 spun in leaves on the tree or lying on the ground, in crevices of the bark, under 

 stones, in fence corners and under almost any convenient shelter. Within the cocoon 

 is found the dark brown pupa (Plate 1, figure 15). The moth is a light, buff colored, 

 active creature (Plate 1, figures 10, 11). The male may be recognized by his richer 

 coloring, smaller size and feathery antennae (Plate 1, figure 1 1). 



Life History and Habits. The winter is passed by the well developed larva 

 within the egg shell. On the appearance of warm weather, the young caterpillars 

 begin to emerge and if no food is at hand, await the unfolding of the leaves. From 

 eggs received in early spring, young caterpillars emerged April 1 7. There is consider- 

 able latitude in the time of hatching, even in one locality, about a month as reported 

 by V. H. Lowe, and there is a corresponding variation in the time the caterpillars attain 

 maturity. As the young increase in size, they molt from time to time, leaving their 

 cast skins in small clusters on the bark (Plate 1, figure 16). When not feeding, the 

 larvse may be found in clusters on the limbs. They also resort to such places when 

 about to molt, an operation requiring at least a day or two. A wind or jarring causes 

 these creatures when small to drop and suspend themselves with a silken thread, a 

 position very annoying to persons obliged to pass under an infested tree, and as many 

 shade trees were attacked last summer, this feature was painfully apparent. If the 

 shock is sudden the caterpillars drop without spinning a web. As they become 

 about half grown, they frequently form good sized clusters on the larger limbs and 

 trunk of an infested tree. If the creatures are very abundant, they may strip the tree 

 before full growth is attained and then be forced by hunger to invade neighboring 

 orchards. The maple leaves represented on plate 1 show well the work of this insect. 

 Ordinarily, as the caterpillars approach maturity, many of them forsake the tree and 

 crawl in all directions. Thus in obedience to a natural impulse, they may crawl in 

 numbers over walks, piazzas and swarm on sides of houses. This wandering, prior to 



