Ectropis crepuscularia (Denis & Schiff.), the saddle-back 
looper, feeds on the foliage of a wide variety of trees in the north- 
ern tier of States and from Coast to Coast in southern Canada. 
South of Canada, it is usually found on hardwoods such as birch, 
maple, oak, poplar, and walnut. In Canada, it appears to prefer 
conifers. Full-grown larvae are reddish to chocolate brown and 
about 30 mm. long. The head is somewhat mottled, and there is a 
pair of blunt tubercles on the eighth abdominal segment. Larvae 
are present from May to September in the Northeastern States 
and the winter is spent in the pupal stage in the ground. 
Hpimecis virginiaria (Cram.) occurs on sassafras and yellow 
poplar in the Atlantic Coastal States. The adult is either dark 
colored to almost black or light gray with a dusting of brown. 
The forewings are marked with lines and the wingspread is about 
50 mm. Full-grown larvae are yellowish to dark brown with 5 
pale yellowish longitudinal lines and are about 37 mm. long. 
Larvae are present during June and July, and they feed at night. 
There are one and a possible second generation per year. 
Phigalia tites (Cram.) occurs in southern Canada westward to 
Saskatchewan and in several Eastern States. Its hosts include 
various hardwoods, especially red oak, red maple, basswood, 
hickory, and elm. Numerous outbreaks have been recorded in 
mixed oak and maple stands in the Northeastern States. The male 
moth has a wingspread of 37 mm. The thorax is whitish, and the 
abdomen is marked with two rows of black dots on the dorsum. 
The forewings are dotted with dark brown specks and are marked 
with three blackish lines and a row of black spots along the 
outer margin. The wings of the female are vestigial and func- 
tionless. Full-grown larvae are pinkish with many blackish longi- 
tudinal lines and are about 37 mm. long. The thoracic segments 
are thick, and there are hairy tubercles on all body segments. 
Eggs are laid beneath the bark on dead branches. Larvae are 
present from May to July, and winter is spent in the pupal stage 
in the soil. 
The spring cankerworm, Paleacrita vernata (Peck) (fig. 129), 
occurs throughout the same general range as the fall cankerworm, 
also farther southwest and west to Texas, Colorado, and Cali- 
fornia. Its hosts are about the same as those of the fall canker- 
worm. Apple and elm are especially favored. Male moths have 
a wing expanse of about 21 to 30 mm. The forewings are silky 
with loosely attached, brownish scales, and are crossed by three 
jagged, dark lines. The hindwings are pale, ashy-gray, and each 
bears a dusky, discal spot. Each of the first seven joints of the 
abdomen bears two transverse, dorsal rows of stiff, reddish 
spines, pointed posteriorly. Female moths are wingless and gen- 
erally whitish or brown or black. There is a darker stripe down 
the back and two transverse rows of reddish spines on each of the 
first seven joints of the abdomen. These spines are often so promi- 
nent as to give the dorsum a reddish aspect. 
Full-grown larvae are reddish to yellowish-brown, yellowish- 
green, or blackish and are about 18 to 30 mm. long. The head is 
light and mottled with brown. The body is usually marked with 
a yellow stripe just below the spiracles, and a broad greenish- 
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