The Puss Caterpillar. 



9 



bark of the hackberry trees are often seen to be filled with cocoons, 

 sometimes thousands of them being present on a single tree. Occa- 

 sionally they are seen on fences or houses, or on stones around the 

 bases of trees. 



INJURIOUSNESS. 



As has been stated, the caterpillars can be considered of com- 

 paratively little importance as enemies of shade trees, although on 



Fig. 6.— Cocoon of puss caterpillar attached to twig, side view. 



certain occasions they become so numerous as to defoliate them 

 almost completely. This phase of the injury done by them mil not 

 be discussed. 



All stages of the caterpillar are capable of stinging. The severity 

 of the sting, however, increases with the size of the caterpillar. 

 Freshly molted skins and recently killed larvse will produce mild 

 stings and the larvae after the cocoon is spun are capable of stinging, 

 although the venom appears less toxic. While there is evidently a 

 marked difference in the susceptibility of different persons to the 

 effects of the sting, the general concern and excitement produced by 



