MAPLE CATERPILLARS. 
393 
According to Riley, the eggs are deposited in patches of thirty and 
upward, on the under side of a leaf. Each is about 0.05 inch long, sub- 
oval, slightly flattened, translucent, and pale greenish. 
In Missouri and Kansas the worm is double-brooded, the first brood 
of larvae appearing mostly during June and giving forth the moths late 
Fig. 147.— The green-striped spiny maple-worm; b, pupa; c, female.— After Riley. 
in July, while the second brood of worms appears in August and Sep- 
tember, wintering in the chrysalis state, and not appearing as moths 
until the following May. The caterpillar molts four times, becoming 
fully fed within a month, and then entering the ground to pupate.* 
Larva. — In the first stage, yellow, with a large black head, the spines forming little 
black tubercles of nearly uniform size. In the second stage the head is browner, and 
the spines and stripes of the full-fed larva more apparent. In the third stage like the 
caterpillar in its fourth or last stage, but smaller. The fully fed caterpillar is an inch 
and a half long; pale yellowish-green longitudinally, striped above alternately with 
eight very light yellowish-green lines and seven of a darker green, inclining to black, 
with two slender black spines on the second segment behind the head, and two lateral 
rows of sharper, shorter spines. Head copal yellow; segments 10 and 11 a little di- 
lated and rose-colored at the sides. 
Chrysalis. — Rough and pitted, nearly black, with curved horns ab out the head 
and thorax, and the movable joints provided with a ring of sharp conical teeth around 
the anterior edge. (Riley.) 
Moth. — Fore-wings rose-colored, crossed by a broad pale-yellow band; the hind 
wings pale yellow, with a short rosy band behind the middle; the body is yellow, 
the under side and legs rose colored (Harris). In Western specimens, the yellow pre- 
dominates, the rose-color being bnt faintly visible, according to Riley, who has also 
had specimens which were almost white or colorless. The wings expand about two 
inches. The male antennae are broadly pectinated like feathers. 
Remedies. — A Tachina parasite, Tachina (Belvosia) bifasciata Fabr., 
and an ichneumon fly prey upon the caterpillars, and thus reduce their 
numbers. Riley recommends searching for and destroying the moths 
and eggs late in May, while the worms, when about to leave the trees, 
* See also Insect Life, ii, 1890, 276. 
