20 



-which they are clustered, and throwing it into the fire. An orchard can in this way be 

 -effectually cleared of the pest in a very short space of time, and without any great amount 

 of labor. This summer (1870) we found a number of these caterpillars on one of our 

 apple-trees, but we had no difficulty in getting rid of them. One specimen we found 

 swarming with maggots of a minute Ichneumon, which have since gone through their 

 stages of cocoon and perfect flies ; but we have not yet determined the particular genus or 

 species to which they belong. They no doubt serve to keep these insects very much in 

 check, and probably are one of the causes of their irregular appearance from year to year. 



14. Tut? Bed-humped Apple-tree Caterpillar (Notodonta concinna, Sm. and Ab- 

 bott) This insect belongs to the same family as the preceding species, and resembles it 



vp-ry much in its habits and mode of life — so much so, that we need give but a very brief 

 description of it. It usually makes its appearance in July or August, and reveals its pre- 



- sence by stripping the leaves from whole branches, commencing at the top, just as the 

 Yellow-necked Caterpillar described above. When full grown, they are about an inch and 

 a quart rr in length ; their general color is yellowish red above and below, and white on 

 the sides, with thirteen narrow black stripes extending from the head to the tenth seg- 

 ment, interrupted only on the fourth segment by a prominent hump, of an orange-red 

 color (whence the insect's name). There are two rows of black prickles along the back, 

 and a number of shorter ones on the sides, each of which ter- 

 minates in a fine hair ; on the second, third and fourth segments, 

 these prickles are lengthened into spines ; the eleventh and 

 twelfth segments are entirely yellow, without any black lines, 

 and the last segment is black. The head is bright, shining red, 

 with black jaws. Towards the end of summer, the caterpillar 

 forms its chrysalis in the earth, and the moth appears the fol- 

 lowing year. It is a common looking light-brown insect, with 

 dark-brown and greyish markings. Fig. 27, (1) represents 

 the caterpillar, and (2) the moth. " There is one peculiarity 

 about this caterpillar which we have not noticed in any other. 

 Fie 27. When handled, it discharges a clear liquid, having a strong acid 



funell and taste This is probably given as a means of defence against birds, since their 

 feeding in flocks, and so openly, would render them particularly liable to attacks from 

 these active foes." (Canada Farmer, 1869, p. 339.) 



These caterpillars, when numerous, may be treated as the foregoing species ; or they 

 may be dislodged by a quick, jarring blow upon the limb, and received on a cloth or sheets 

 of newspaper spread below. An end may then be put to their existence by beating with 

 a spade, or trampling under foot. 



15. The Fall Web Worm (Hyphantria textor, Harris). — After all the Tent-Cater- 

 pillars' webs have been carefully and effectually removed from the trees in the spring, the 

 fruit-grower may be surprised and mortified to find his trees again beset with webs to- 

 wards the end ot summer, and be inclined to give up fighting the worms as a hopeless case. 

 If, however, he examines the autumn webs, he will find that the caterpillar that has pro- 

 duced them is different from any that we have so far described, and not at all like the 

 Tent-Caterpillars of the spring, These webs are very large and thin, and are generally 

 formed all over the end of a branch, and not in a fork. The caterpillars vary in their 

 general color from black to blue and greenish; they have a broad, blackish stripe on the 

 back, in which, when nearly full grown, a blue line appears. On each segment (except 



v the two at each extremity, which have fewer,) there are twelve little warts, from which 

 bundles of whitish hairs proceed, viz.: four rust-yellow or orange on each side, two black 

 ones in a line with them on the back, and a little in front and between these two smaller 

 ones, also black at first, but becoming rust-yellow when the caterpillar is older. In feed- 

 ing, they at first only eat the softer parts of the leaves, the stalks and net- work of veins 

 being left ; but afterwards, they consume pretty nearly everything that comes within 

 their fatal net. When full grown, they disperse, and spin their cocoons in crevices of the 

 bark, and other sheltered places. The moth appears the following summer, and is of a 

 milk-white color, without any spots or other markings upon the wings. 



