THE WHITE-MAEKED TUSSOCK-MOTH. 



rather slender and not covered with long hairs. She has consequently 



no power of flight, and is handy able to walk. After working her way 

 out of the chrysalis and cocoon she takes her place on the ontsid 

 the latter and patiently awaits the approach of the male. Here she 

 also deposits and protects her fgg* in the manner already roeutioi 

 after which she drops exhausted to the ground and perishes. The 

 white mass covering the eggs is at first viscous, bat soon dries, becom- 

 ing brittle, and is impervious to water. 



Hibernation. — The species hibernates normally in the egg state, but 

 occasionally a living chrysalis may be found in winter time. On Janu- 

 ary 30, 1874, we received from Mr. Hunter Nicholson, from Knoxville, 

 Tenn., a newly-hatched female, and this had, no doubt, prematurely is- 

 sued from a hibernating chrysalis. This is, however, quite exceptional, 

 and the different climatic conditions to which the species is subjected in 

 its wide distribution do not seem to alter the normal mode of hiberna- 

 tion. 



Number of Annual Generations. — In the latitude of Washington the 

 species is two-brooded, the imagos of the first generation appearing in 

 the first part of June, those of the second generation in September and 

 October. On several occasions we have found, however, that a portion 

 of the caterpillars from one and the same batch of eggs would be feed- 

 ing while- the rest had already transformed to imagos. The result of 

 this retardation and irregularity in development is that caterpillars 

 may be found continuously throughout the season from June till Octo- 

 ber, and that there is, consequently, no distinct dividing line between 

 the two generations. In the more northern States the species is single- 

 brooded, the caterpillars appearing in the mouths of July aud August. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



This caterpillar has most often been referred to by writers on eco- 

 nomic entomology as injurious to fruit trees, such as Plum. Pear, and 

 more particularly the Apple; but it also attacks a great many shade 

 ^. and has been for many years particularly injurious to the elms 

 and the soft or silver maples in some of our larger New England cil 

 It has also a predilection for old or large trees. 



NATURAL ENEMIES AND PAKASIT1 



The fact that the caterpillar makes no effort to conceal itself si 

 that it enjoys immunity from enemies, and notably from birds. In 

 the American Yellow-billed Cuckoo, the Baltimore Oriole, and the Robin 

 are the only birds which have been observed to feed upon the larva?. 



Predaeeous insects are also not particularly fond of this hairy caterpillar. 

 the well knowu Wheel-bug [Prionidw crtetati ad a few 



other Soldier-bugs being the only species winch i ally suck its 



