MISC. PUBLICATION 62 6, U. S. DEPT. OF -AGRICULTURE 



Saddleback Caterpillar 



The saddleback caterpillar {Sibine 

 stimulea (Clem.)) attacks canna, dahlia, 

 holly, lily, palm, rose, and other plants. 

 When full-grown it is about an inch 

 long. It is brown at each end, and the 

 middle is green with a purple center, 

 resembling a small saddle (fig. 9), 

 whence the name. The moth is dark, 

 velvety, reddish brown, with two white 

 dots near the apex of the wings. 



Figure 9. — Saddleback caterpillar. 

 About natural size. 



Hag Moth 



The hag moth (Phobetro?i pithecium 

 (A. and S.)) has a brownish caterpillar 

 about z /i inch long. It is unusual in 

 appearance, having plumelike processes 

 extending from each side of the body 

 (fig. 10). These are curved and twisted, 

 suggesting the disheveled locks of a hag, 

 and are clothed with stinging hairs. 

 During the summer it is occasionally 

 found feeding on the foliage of various 

 shrubs and trees, but is seldom numer- 

 ous enough to cause defoliation. 





Crinkled Flannel Moth 



The crinkled flannel moth {Megalopyge 

 crispata (Pack.)) caterpillar (fig. 11) is 

 thick and fleshy and from % to 1 inch 

 long when full-grown. It is covered 

 with long, silky, brown hairs, which 

 project upward to form a crest along 

 the middle of the back. This species 

 is commonly found in the Northern 

 States, where it feeds on apple, bay- 

 berry, birch, cherry, locust, oak, rasp- 

 berry, and sweetfern. The moth is 

 cream-colored, with black and brownish 

 markings on the wings. 



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Figure 10. — Hag moth caterpillar. 

 About V/i times natural size. 



Figure 11. — Flannel moth caterpillar. 

 About natural size. 



Puss Caterpillar 



The puss caterpillar (Megalopyge 

 opercularis (A. and S.)) is broad and 

 flat and completely covered with long, 

 silken, reddish-yellow hairs, and re- 

 sembles the flannel moth caterpillar 

 (fig. 11). It is about an inch long when 

 full-grown. This caterpillar is found 

 from Virginia to Texas. It is a general 

 feeder, and occurs often on hackberry, 

 maple, oak, and sycamore trees. It 

 also has been found on roses and English 

 ivy. 



Treatment. — Spray the leaves with 

 lead arsenate. Where only a few cater- 

 pillars are present, these may be picked 

 by hand, but gloves should be worn as 

 a protection against the stinging spines. 



Prevention. — Clean up refuse around 

 plants in the fall and burn it. Use 

 clean straw or mulch if the plants must 

 be protected. 



