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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



just enough to kill the leaves.. On closer investigation I found many of 

 these insects devouring the leaves. Later, I judge at least 25 acres were 

 completely stripped of foliage ; as much so as if fire had run through the 

 wood and killed every tree. They seemed to have no choice as to what 

 variety of timber they attacked. There were many in my peach orchard 

 and lawn. On single trees, far removed from my timber lot, they were as 

 thick as could well be, in many places in heaps. Fences adjoining the tim- 

 ber were fairly covered with them. They have been known for years in this 

 vicinity, but were heretofore always considered harmless. From present 

 appearances they are greatly to be feared as a scourge, consequently anything 

 relating to them will be read with great interest. I hear from them in 

 Florida but not in such numbers as here. 



The same year these peculiar insects were exceedingly abundant and 

 destructive in the vicinity of Ferrisburg Vt., as stated in the Rural New 

 Yorker for Nov. 7, 1874. There were also serious injuries to forest 

 areas in Pennsylvania. The above accounts relate to one of the unusual 

 outbreaks frequently seen among insects, and as a rule this species may- 

 be considered comparatively harmless. 



Description. The brownish, bean-shaped eggs, a little less than I / I 6 inch 

 in length, are dropped at random in the forest and remain unhatched 

 over winter. The recently emerged young are nearly y% inch long, exclu- 

 sive of the antennae, and are then a pale yellowish green. The full grown 

 adults have a body length of about 3 inches and the slender, tapering 

 antennae extend forward from the head about 2 inches. The slender, long 

 legs are attached to the anterior portion of the body and measure from 

 about \yi to 2 inches in length. They are rather easily detached and as a 

 consequence perfect specimens are somewhat rare. The female is easily 

 recognized by her stouter form. This peculiar insect in nature has the 

 habit of extending its anterior legs and antennae, clinging largely by the 

 posterior and middle legs and in this way simulating the appearance of a 

 twig very closely. 



Life history and habits. The eggs are dropped at random among the 

 trees and remain unhatched till the following spring. The young appear 

 sometime during the month of May, and are general feeders, grow rapidly 

 and attain maturity in early fall. 



