Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-08-08

IS amount of inclement weather waiting fol
y the leaf buds TO develop into leaves, which
they then eat with hearty relish. As soon
as they are born they commence spinning
a thread wherever they 60, yet as the web
is beneath them, close to the bark Of the
tree, it is often overlooked. They live
more or less in company, like the common
tent caterpillar, but go through four sue.
cessiye moults before they arrive Mt MA
turity, and ut such times huddle in punches,
remaining for day or two quite inactive
AT their fourth moult they quite unwit-
tingly court destruction by collecting in
masses upon the trunks Of trees, often
within few feet of the ground. After
this moult it may be seen Gas before men
tioned), wandering about to find suitable
place to form its cocoon. Why it wanders
in such places, and then takes up with a
leaf that it can draw together, or several
leaves all combined to cover it, we can
hardly tell. 1t, however, frequently spins
its cocoons under fence rails, boards, Or
any sheltered protection.
The cocoon is much like that of the
common tent caterpillar. Three days af-
ter its completion the caterpillar again
casts its skin, and becomes chrysalis, of
II pale reddish brown, busted all over with
Il pale powder, and densely clothed with
short and yellowsh hairs. In couple of
weeks more, or usually in this state from
the first to the tenth Of July the moth is.
sues, being of n brownish yellow, and
having two oblique transverse lines across
the front wings. 1t is quite like the moth
of the common tent caterpillar. The most
marked difference is, that the transverse
bands upon the front wings are darker in
this, and lighter in the other species.
There is one noticeable fact about this
pest; that is, that for several years we
see few if any Of them, and then there is
year or two of great plenty. The rea-
son of this is, that our insect friends, and
we fortunately have many that live upon
this caterpillar, gain ground upon it, and
come near exterminating it; but with
dearth of food they die out also, and the
caterpillar then gains again, to become a
prey to his prosecutors.
By their aid we get along nicely, only
no" and then year, when we have to
kill them to save our trees. If you jar
the trees Or branch upon which they are
feeding, they will all spin down few
inches, and may then be picked Off At
their fourth monlt they may be killed as
they congregate upon the leeward side of
trees, as before noticed, but rs they have
already eaten up the foliage it is not so nee
essary to kill them rs earlier, yet always
kill them when you can. If you search
your trees for eggs in the winter you will
find these, as well rs the "apple-tree tent
CATERPILLAR" for they are in same locations.
When one tree is denuded of foliage the
travels to another and ascends
it. This can be prevented by putting tar
Or printers ink upon band about the trees
not infested. The cocoons may also be
sought for and many killed,
1t is easier to seek out the eggs, and ,
.hus nip the evil in the bud. Shears may {
De fixed for the purpose, by attaching one
blade to pole, and operating the other by |
| wire, thus clipping twigs beyond reach.
AS this caterpillar feeds upon almost all
ieciduous trees Of the forest, as well as r
ruit trees, it will be seen that were it not i
or its natural enemies, we should not S
make much Roadway against its ravages. 5
rs it is much more destructive than the -
common tent caterpillar we should, how a
'ver do all we can to combat it. Il
The tent caterpillar Of the forest differs n
from the common tent cater h
'lllar in that their egg masses are square n
t the end of the bunch instead of being |.
ounded off. The larvae have row of s.
pots along their back instead of II contin- +,
GUS narrow line. The moth has the stripe II
n its front wings ms dark if not darker in e
he centre than the color of the moth, in IL
.ead of lighter 1t feeds on variety of y
'ees instead of combining itself to very a
wv. 1t makes its web beneath it, and i,
close to the tree, instead of Il
rejection to live under. 1t is, lastly,
luch more destructive, travelling from =.
zee to tree, which the common tent cater e
illar seldom if ever does, Ii