250 FIFTH REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL COMMISSION. 
4. Liriodendron tulipifera L. (Tulip 
Tree,) 
1. Magnolia spec. (Magnolia.) 
4. Chionanthux virginicus L. (Fringe 
Tree.) 
4. Ligustrnm vulgare L. (Privet.) 
L .KhcuIuh Jiava, Ait. (Sweet Buck- 
rye. ) 
4. JEsculus glabra Willd. (Ohio Buck- 
eye.) 
4. Morus rubra L. (Red Mulberry.) 
4. Zanthoxylum americanum M. (Prickly 
Ash. ) 
4. Acer dasycarpum Ehrh. (White or 
Silver Maple.) 
4. Acer rubrum Wang. (Red Maple.) 
3-4. i'x iih rurica L. (Fig.) 
4. HhiiH cotiniiH L. (Smoke Tive.) 
1. PfjitM Bpee. (Pine.) 
1. ZteMM speo. | Yew.) 
4. Xt/xsa inultijlora Wang. (Sour Gum.) 
4. FayuH frruginta Ait. (Beech.) 
4. A'<* /mia spec. (Laurel.) 
4. Rhododendron spec. (Rhododendrou.) 
4. liicinus com muni* L. (Castor-oil 
Plant.) 
4. Liquidambar styraciflua L. (Sweet 
Gum.) 
4. (ilt'ditxchia triacanthos L. (Honey 
Locust.) 
4. Gymnocladu8 canadensis, Lamb. (Ken- 
tucky Coffee Tree.) 
4. Itobina pseudacacia L. (Locust.) 
Trees in the vicinity of the white poplar and cottonwood suffered most. Even 
trees usually not injured, as, for instance, the sugar maple, are often badly defoliated 
when in such contiguity. 
This list contains a number of plants not usually injured by these caterpillars. In 
some cases the injury was due to the fact that twigs containing the web, with its 
occupants, had been pruned from the tree and thrown near plants, instead of being 
at once burned or otherwise destroyed. 
In other cases the injury is due to the peculiar position of the plant injured, i. e. t 
under a tree infested by the caterpillars. These when fully grown commence to scat- 
ter, and dropping upon the plants underneath the tree so defoliate it without act- 
ually making their home upon it. The great number thus droppiugfrom a large tree 
will soon defoliate any smaller plant, even if each caterpillar takes but a mouthful 
by way of trial. Thus holly, a plant not usually eaten by these insects, soon be- 
comes denuded. Other plants unpalatable or even obnoxious to the caterpillars are 
sometimes destroyed by the multitudes in their search for more suitable food. 
Hungry caterpillars leaving a denuded tree in search or food wander in a straight 
line to the next tree, sometimes a distance of 25 feet, showing that they possess some 
keen sense to guide them. If such a tree offers unsuitable food, they still explore it 
for a long time before deserting it. In this manner two columns of wandering cater- 
pillars are formed, which frequently move in opposite directions. 
Peculiar effect of defoliation upon some plants. — During the early part of October 
many trees, mainly apple and pear, which had been entirely denuded of their foli- 
age by the caterpillars, showed renewed activity of growth. Some had a few 
scattered flowers upon them, others had one or two branches clothed with flowers, 
while in some few cases the whole tree appeared white. It looked as if the trees were 
covered with snow, since they lacked the green foliage usually seen with the blossoms 
in spring. Some few flowers were also observed upon badly defoliated cherry-trees. 
Even as late as the middle of November, owing perhaps also to the pleasantly warm 
weather, some few flowers could be observed upon some imported plants belonging 
to the genus Spircea and upon the Chinese red-apple. All these plants usually blossom 
early in spring. The caterpillars having entirely defoliated the trees produced thus 
an artificial period of rest, or winter, which was followed by unseasonable budding 
and flowering. Such a result often follows summer denudation by any insect, and 
we have referred to some remarkable cases in our previous writings.* 
Entmies of the Web- Worm other than insects. — The caterpillars have compara- 
tively few enemies belonging to the vertebrate animals. This is not owing to any 
offensive odor or to any other means of defense, but is entirely due to their hairiness. 
* See Eighth Report on the Insects of Missouri, p. 121. 
