FROCESSION-MOTH (Gastropacha processioned). 1, Male ; 2, Single hair of the larva ; 3, Segment of larva ; 
4, The pupa ; 5, The cocoons of several larvae spun up together. (Nos. 2 and 3 enlarged.) 
The main illustration represents the migration of the larvae in orderly procession. 
In this state, coiled round in a spiral form, they may be frozen quite stiff, yet 
on the return of spring they regain vitality, and climb the trees in search of their 
usual provender. The red-brown cocoon is spun sometimes between the needles 
of the tree, as represented in the illustration, or else beneath some semi-detached 
piece of bark. In the procession-moth (Gastropacha processioned ) the fore-wings 
are yellow-grey, with a glossy sheen, and dark indistinct oblique transverse bars. 
The larvm are hairy with a blue-black back, pale sides, and red or grey warts on 
each segment. At night the caterpillars march out to feed in a regular orderly 
106 INSECTS. 
to the pine-forests, where it feeds upon the needles of the trees, and sometimes 
appears in overwhelming numbers. In coping with the enormous quantity of 
caterpillars of this moth which devastate the district on these occasions, man is 
materially assisted by other creatures. Thus, a tree-frog ascends and feeds upon 
the larvoe; ichneumons of different species sting, and thus destroy, thousands; an 
internal fungus establishes itself in the caterpillar, with the same result; and, 
lastly, a beetle and its larvrn, which are represented in the illustration, render no 
small assistance in clearing off the pest. The caterpillars are hatched in the autumn 
and hibernate, remaining throughout the winter in the moss at the foot of the trees. 
