THE WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK-MOTH. 



29 



THE WHITE-MARKED TUSSOCK-MOTH. 

 Orgyia leucostigma Smith c\: Abbot.; 



HABITS AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



The Eggs, — During tbe month of June, and more especially late in fall 

 and throughout the winter, glistening white objects may be seen on the 

 trunks and the larger branches of trees, or in the corners of the fences 

 near by, or on bunches of dead leaves hanging on the tree see Fig. 

 13 a). Upon examination these masses will be found to be glued onto 

 a cocoon of dirty gray color, and to consist of numerous perfectly round, 

 cream-white eggs, which are partly covered by a glistening white froth 



b c d 



13. — Orjyia Itueosttgma : a. i'ewale on cocoon : b. larva: c. ft-male papa; d. male pnpa. 



or spittle-like matter. In one of these egg-masses which we received 

 from Kansas we have counted as many as 786 eggs, while from another 

 mass we obtained upward of 400 young caterpillars. 



Development and Characters of the Larva. — In the latitude of Saint 

 Louis, Mo., and Washington the eggs begin to hatch about the middle 

 of May, and the newly-born caterpillar, not quite 3 millimeters in length, 

 is of dull whitish-gray color, with the under side paler, the upper side 

 being covered with rather long hairs and tufts of a dark-brown color. 

 In two days from hatching small orange spots begin to appear along 







the back, and on the seventh day the first molt takes place, to tx 

 lowed at intervals of six days each by the second and third molts. 

 The changes that take place during this time in the appearance of the 

 caterpillar are remarkable, ami after the third molt it is a beautiful ob- 



