ROSEBREAST VS. HAIRY CATERPILLARS. 



51 



Fig. 27. — Fall 

 pometaria). 

 Entomology. 



cankerworm (AlsopMla 

 (From Riley, Bureau of 



The dreaded army worm (Heliophila unipuncta, fig. 28-), which 

 sometimes appears in myriads and devastate fields of grain and grass, 

 also is the prey of this beautiful grosbeak. A bird from Illinois in 

 Jul} 7 had captured G of these destructive caterpillars. 



The tent-caterpillars are another group of noxious lepidopterous 

 insects, which are common in many 

 parts of the United States. They 

 greatly damage orchards, as well as 

 shade and woodland trees. E. H. 

 Forbush a is authority for the state- 

 ment that the rose-breasted gros- 

 beak preys upon the orchard tent- 

 caterpillar (Malacosoma americana, 

 fig. 29), and Prof. C. M. Weed & 

 reports that the bird devours 

 moths, larvae, and pupae of the forest tent-caterpillar (31. disstria). 



Two other insects of this order, which are usually thought of 

 together and which indeed are closely related, are the gipsy moth 

 (fig. 30) and the brown-tailed moth (fig. 31). 

 Mere mention of their names calls to mind the 

 enormous damage done by them in the State of 

 Massachusetts, and of the costly efforts being 

 made to stamp out these disastrous invaders 

 from across the sea. Birds have proved of serv- 

 ice as allies in this struggle, and the present 

 species is by no means least in importance 

 among them. In the original report c on the 

 gipsy moth, as well as in later publications,** 

 the rosebreast is listed among the species de- 

 vouring the larva?, while in regard to the 

 brown-tail moth Messrs. Mosher and Kirkland 

 report e that " a rose-breasted grosbeak ate 57 

 caterpillars in twenty minutes." 



This species eats hairy and spiny caterpillars 

 as readily as smooth ones, and the idea so often 

 advanced that such hairy armature is effective 

 protection against the attack of birds receives little support from the 

 food habits of the grosbeaks. Tussock and gipsy moths and both 

 of the tent caterpillars are devoured, though very hairy. The 



r 



Fig. 28. — Army worm 

 (Heliophila unipuncta ). 

 (From Chittenden, Bu- 

 reau of Entomology.) 



"Mass. State Bd. Agr. Rep. (1900), 1901, p. 315. 



& N. H. Exp. Sta. Bull. 75, 1900, p. 121. 



c Forbush, E. H., and Fernald, C. H.. The Gipsy Moth, 1896, p. 219. 



d Forbush, E. H., Mass. State Bd. Agr. Rep. (1900), 1901, p. 313. 



e Forbush, E. H., Mass. State Bd. Agr. Rep., 1899, p. 322. 



