The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-06-26

mcuHuIo TIC space over WHICH tney pass
From this circumstance they are called
spanworms, loopers, sc. Aa9 aa
They gre commonly hatched about the
time red currants are in blossom, and the
apple puts forth its tender leaves.
Having thrown off the shell, they move
about with activity in search of food and
having arrived at the extremities Of the
branches or buds begins to feed on the
pulpy parts of the leaves, and if leaf be
taken from the tree at this period and held
against the light, it appears perforated
with small apsrtures like pin holes. Each
individual acquires its full growth in about
three weeks, and in this term cast several
skins, each succeeding coat being oflarg-
err dimensions than the former; the num-
Der of these, and the space which inter
vencs between their changes, is not asccr
tanned. As they pass through these sta.
ges they become more and more vorac-
ious, and in the fourth week are more
destructive than in all the former
stages oftheir existence. They are con-
tinually spinning as they move from place
to place, and attach their threads to their
path; hence if branch of the tree be
struck they are seen suspended in the air
by silkcn fibre like that Of the spider, by
means Of which when the shock is over
they ascend to their former station. Be
ing furnished with fewer feet than other
caterpilars they are more exposed to fall,
and while they are secured from injury
by the thread they emit, they arc also, by
being able to regain their position, in some
measure confined to their native tree. A'
On each side of the mouth is small
papilla from which the fibre which sus-
pends them is spun; so that the thread is
in fact double, thestwo fbres adhsring as
soon as emitted. ,,fs r,rf
Their ascent when thrown from the
tree is slow, and performed by bending
the head and anterior part Of the body
back until the feet in the third segment
can reach the thread, which they grasp,
then bringing the head forward, they
seize the thread with the jaws, thus con-
tinuing to fold it up until arrived at u rest
ing place. They pause at intervals if the
ascent is long. ~
This part oithcir economy has suggest
cd to some persons the expedient of break
ing the threads by striking with O. stick
between the suspended insect and the
branches Of the tree, and il is said that
those which thus fall to the earth never
rise to the tree again. This is probably
The case with those thst fall from branch
es most remote from the trunk. l.
; When they aeorer, themselves ---Cn the
twenty. six day from their quitting the eggs,
hey begih to cease from feeding and to
descend from the trunk of the tree; when
arrived at the foot they with great labor
penetrate the earth near il, to different
depths; and this appears to depend in part
On the quality ofthe soil, and in part on the
sigour ofthe animal. ~
AT WHAT DErTH.-In grass land they
arc found from one to four inches beneath
he surface, and when the trees stand in
,loughed lands, if the soil be loose, they
penetrate to the depth Of seven or eight
nches,, Some individuals from an hidden
:ause delay this operation SO long that the
,hrysalis state come on before they arc a.
Die to penetrate the earth. These perish
or want ofthat equal moisture which those
'cncuth the surface enjoy.
1t has been observed before, that worms
lescelfd by the trunk ofthe tree; all which
descend in this manner, cnter the earth
lear It. This ss their natural and regular
.ourse, and hence the greatest number of
hem is. found within a circle, whose ra-
lius extends four feet from the tree. But
ONE will always he found at greater dis
ancc according to the area Which the
rec covers; for il dislodged by Hind or
ccident, at the time when they are about
0 seek the earth, they cover themselvcs1
ear the spot they fall on. In recurring to |
he structure Of the female insect, we see
t once The reason why they are natural
y confined to a small circle. ~
The larva Of caterpillar, is when full
'rowh, about nine tenths of an inch long
he head pale, marked OH each side, with /
wo transverse blackish stripes; the back
sh colorcd, marked lebgihwisc, with
mall interrupted dusky lines; the sides
lackish with pale line along the length
{ the body; there are two white spots on
nc last segment Of the body; the abdomen
r under side is ash colored.
The chrysslis or eyab state comes on