STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
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fore part of the body being slightly raised from the surface on 
which they are standing and the antennae turned backward and 
pressed down upon the wings. 
The moth of the palmer worm (see plate 4, fig. 4) measures about 0.65 
across»its wings when they are expanded. It is of an ash-gray color. The 
fore wings are sprinkled more or less with black atoms, and have on the apical 
edge at the base of the fringe six or seven equidistant black dots. On the disk 
are also four larger black or brown dots, two before and two behind the mid¬ 
dle, the latter nearer together than the former. These dots are placed ob¬ 
liquely with regard to each other, the anterior pair having the outer dot more 
towards the base of the wing than the inner one, whilst the posterior pair has 
the inner dot nearer the base than the outer one. Frequently there is a tawny 
yellow streak or cloud between the anterior dots and the base, situated upon 
the slight plait or groove formed by the midvein. Sometimes also a dusky 
transverse band may be discovered on the posterior part of the wing, half way 
between the posterior dots and the tip. The fringe on the inner tips of these 
wings is dusky, with a pale tawny band occupying its basal half. The hind 
wings above and beneath are dusky with a glossy azure blue reflection, and 
blackish veins, their long fringes being dusky. The under side of the body and 
the legs are dull whitish with a silky lustre, the feet darker with a white ring 
at each joint. The antenna; are alternated with rings of black and white. 
The varieties of this moth arc numerous, particularly in those years when 
it is abundant. The more important ol these are as follows: 
a. Ground color of the fore wings dull white instead of ash-gray. 
b. Ground color of the fore wings pale tawny yellow. 
c. The fore wings with a strong purplish-red reflection. 
d. Dots on the middle of the fore wings three only, the anterior one being 
effaced. Rare. It appears to have been a specimen of this variety 
from which Dr. Harris’s description of the species was taken. 
e. The four dots on the middle of the fore wings all wanting. 
f. The dots on the apex of the fore wings faint or wanting. 
Numbers of these worms are every year destroyed by a small 
footless grub or maggot, which lives in the palmer worm until 
it has attained its growth, when it perforates a hole through the 
side of the worm, and crawling out, spins a small white oval 
cocoon for itself, commonly attaching this cocoon very slightly 
to the surface of the leaf. The worm from which this parasite 
has crawled remains upon the leaf beside it, its feet seemingly 
paralyzed, so that it is unable to move from the spot. It turns 
its head at times from one side to the other, but eats no more 
and soon perishes. 
When these worms were present in 1853 some persons 
attempted to save favorite trees from their ravages by repeatedly 
jarring the trees and with a pole breaking ofl' the threads by 
