CATERPILLAR. Hand Maid Moth. Datana ministra. There are a number of caterpillars called " Tent worms." The true tent caterpillars build webs under which they feed. Others, as in the case of the Yellow-necked caterpillar, transform only under webs, within which they congregate, for the pur pose, though they often spin webs as they pro gress in feeding. These species are so nearly alike, in the moth state, as scarcely to be distin guished. Thus, the larvEe, found feeding on the hickory and black walnut, are black-necked, while those on the apple are yellow-necked. Those on the oak, elm. plum and other trees are orange pencilled. The preceding cut will show the form and peculiarities of these insects ; larva3, b, moth, e, egg mass, d, egg magnified. They should be assiduously sought for and killed where they gather together at night, during the, molting season. For comparison, we append a discription of the true tent caterpillar, with tration, above. The American tent caterpillar, Cita?' ocampa Americana , is most destructive. The report on the Rocky Mountain Locusts, 1877, says: At the same time that the canker-worms are breaking out of their egg-shells, the y oung tent-caterpillars are following suit. This occurs usually about the 1st of May, in the region of Boston, or a month or six weeks earlier in the latitude of St. I.ouis, just as the leaves are unfolding. At this time, if one will examine closely the conspicuous bunches of eggs on the twigs of the tree, he may be able to see the little caterpillars clustering about on the outside of the egg-mass. When hatched, they have large heads, and the body is provided with long, scattered hairs, they at once betake themselves to the opening buds, congregating at noon time, when the sun is hot among the axils of the branches, •there ing a tent of silk for protection from the sun and rain. As they increase in size, they inalKe extended journeys over different branches, laying pathways of silk wherever they go. The tent or nest increases in size until it becomes the conspicuous, but by no means ornamental, object so noticeable on the grounds of slovenly farmers early in Xune, The caterpillars become fully grown by the middle of June. Then they spin
dense, tough, white cocoons under loose bark, or under boards and rails of fences, and the moth appears about the 1st of July. The American tent-caterpillar is about two inches in length, with long, rather dense hairs. Along the back runs a white stripe, accompanied by numerous fine, wrinkled black lines on a yellow ground, united below into a common black line. On the side of each segment of the body is a conspicu ous blue spot. The moths hide by day about the garden, and when the lamps are lighted, in they dart and tunible about on the table under the light, in an insensate way, as if frightened out ot' their wits. So peculiar is their mode of entering a lighted room, that one can usually tell what moth is coming by its peculiar, noisy mode of entrance. The moth is reddish-brown, very thick-bodied, clothed in a thick coat of long hairs, and with short, broad, strong wings, as it flies swiftly. It is reddish-brown, with two oblique, dirty-white lines on the fore wings, which expand when outstretched, about an inch and a half. Early in June the female lays her eggs, in bunches of from 300 to 400. They are placed side by side, in a mass surrounding the twigs, and after they are thus stuck on so as to surround the branch like a collar, the entire mass is covered over with a gummy secretion, which hardens, and serves as a protection to the,eggs. Remedies: In the early spring as well as late autumn the bunches of eggs should be picked off and burned. When the tents are formed in June the nest should be removed with a mop dipped in oil or kerosene, at uoon-time, when the cater pillars are in the tent. By discharging a gun close to the nest it can be destroyed with a small charge of powder The cut, page 1044, shows a, b, larvw, e, mass of eggs on twig, d, cocoon.