33 



At fig. 3 the different stages of the American Lackey moth are given. This species 

 appears in the perfect state in the beginning of July, about a week earlier than the 

 other species referred to above, which is known by the name of the Forest Tent Caterpillar. 

 (C, disstria, Hub. C. sylvatica, Har.) 



■^- 



Fig. 1. — Female. 



Fig. 2.— Male. 



The American Lackey moth (fig. 1 female, fig. 2 male) is a pretty species of a dull but 

 rich reddish-brown color, haying the upper wings crossed obliquely by two clear whitish 

 parallel lines. In rare instances these show faintly on the lower wings also. The fringes 

 of the wings are of the same color as the oblique lines. The space enclosed between the 

 light lines is paler than the rest of the wings in the males, but of the same color or 

 rather darker in the females. On the under side all four wings are crossed by a well 

 defined irregular whitish bar. The perfect insects, having their mouth parts undeveloped, 

 partake of no food, but devote the whole period of their short lives to the perpetuation 

 of their kind. As soon as they have paired and the females have laid their eggs, they 

 ■die. The eggs (fig. c) are deposited in rings upon the smaller twigs of various trees, usually 



■ ".'"'''''■>•.. .:-,.\/- 



Fig. 3. 



within a short distance of the tips. Each egg-cluster contains from 200 to 300 eggs, 

 which when laid are covered with a liquid glutinous substance, which soon dries and cements 

 them firmly together, and protects them from rain and the weather. 



A surprising point in the life-history of these insects, is that about a month after 

 the eggs are laid the young caterpillar is fully formed inside the egg, and it remains in 

 this condition all through the winter, only eating its way out of the egg in the following 

 3 (EN.) 



