298 Report or THE ENTOMOLOGISTS OF THE 
young caterpillars have hatched also delays their growth. Dr. 
Riley” states that the newly hatched caterpillars are able to fast 
fully three weeks and “to withstand any amount of inclement 
weather.” 
Feeding habits.—During the first three or four weeks the cater- 
pulars are gregarious, but as they approach full size, and espe- 
cially after the last molt they scatter about the tree. During the 
earlier stages only a portion of the leaf is consumed, but later 
nearly the entire leaf may be devoured. Weed states'® that “ the 
caterpillars commonly eat through the leaf in such a way that the 
outer end drops to the ground,” thus causing the insect to be rela- 
tively more destructive than if devouring the entire leaf. They 
feed chiefly during the night, and to a limited extent during the 
cool of the day. While not feeding they were often seen last sea- 
son resting in small groups upon the leaves, as shown in Plate 
X XI, fig. 2, which is from a snap-shot taken on a very warm day 
at 11:15 a.m. The nature of the injury to the leaves is also shown 
in this picture. 
Silk spinning habit— From the first the young caterpillars 
spin a thread of silk wherever they go, but seldom if ever make a 
true nest. Sometimes a few leaves that the caterpillars have 
passed over will become covered with silk and attached to adjoin- 
ing leaves, thus giving the whole the appearance of a rude nest 
or tent. If disturbed the young caterpillars will drop quickly 
to the ground. In the bulletin just referred to Dr. Weed reports 
an observation by Mr. W. F. Fiske to the effect that the young 
caterpillars when suddenly disturbed while feeding will drop. 
to the ground without attaching a thread. This is also true of the 
older caterpillars. When congregated upon a twig the young cat- 
erpillars are more apt to attach a thread which, however, is quite 
likely to be broken before the ground is reached. This habit of 
dropping to the ground when disturbed, as they undoubtedly often 
are by birds or by the branches swaying in the wind, probably, as 
‘15 Amer. Ent. and Bot., 2: 262. 
16N. H. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 64, pp. 83-84. 
