26 



10. Platysamia Cecropia, Linn. This moth is closely allied to the foregoing, and 

 is still larger. The caterpillar, Fig. 4., in nearly four inches long, and is a remarkable and 



Fig. 4. 



beautiful example of insect life. The general colour is a pale green, or bluish green, but 

 the body is studded with elevated tubercles of green, blue, yellow, and red colours. When 

 fully grown it spins a large triangular cocoon, from which it emerges as a most beautiful 

 moth, of a size and richness of colour that causes it to appear quite a tropical insect. Its 

 expanded wings measure from five to seven inches across, and are of a rich brown, with 

 beautiful markings of black, red and white. It is known generally to fruit-growers and 

 others, as it feeds on a great variety of trees, and the caterpillars, cocoons, and moths are 

 all such conspicuous objects as to attract the attention of the least observant. It is a 

 well-known feeder upon the apple and other fruit trees, which it attacks more frequently 

 than it does the maple. 



11. Hypercltiria lo, Fabr., is closely allied to the preceding, but is a much smaller 

 moth, only measuring from two and one-half to three and one-half inches across the 

 expanded wings, the male being much smaller than the female, and darker in colour. The 

 caterpillar, Fig. 5, is much more remarkable than the moth, and when fully grown is more 

 than two inches long. It is of a pale green colour, 

 with a whitish line down the sides, and is set 

 with bunches of spines arising from small tubercles 

 (several on each segment). These spines shown 

 in Fig. 6, much magnified, can inflict very painful 

 wounds, much resembling those from nettles, and 

 sometimes in picking corn or currants one experi- 

 ences a 'very unpleasant sensation, if the back of 

 the hand — which, of course, is always very sen- 

 sitive — should come in contact with a hidden spe- 

 cimen. Hence this larva is known as the " sting- 

 ing caterpillar," although it has not a genuine 

 sting. It feeds on a great variety of plants, I 

 have not found it myself upon maple, but it has 

 been so found by Dr. Packard (page 111 of Bul- 

 letin on Insects Injurious to Forest and Shade 

 Trees). 



12. Anisota Rubicunda, Fabr. The larva of 

 this species is known as the green-striped maple 

 worm, and depredates upon the red and silver 

 maples. In the Western States — Illinois, Mis- 

 siouri, and Kansas — it is said to prove during 

 certain years very destructive; so much so as to discourage people from planting the 

 above named varieties of maple. In Canada it is by no means so common, but has 



Fig. 5. 



