CANKERWORM. The moth from which this destructive worm is produced belongs to the genus Anisopteryx, so named from the fact that in some species the sexes are very unequal in size, and in others the females are wingless. This is the case with the Canker-worm. The cuts repre sent the insect in its various stages of develop went. The following description of the Canker worm is from Dr. Harris' Insects Injurious to Vegetation: Their general time of rising is in the spring, beginning about the middle of March, but sometimes before and sometimes after this time; and they continue to come forth for the space of about three weeks. It has been observed that there are more females than males among those that appear in the autumn and winter, and that the males are most abundant in the spring. The sluggish females instinctively make their way towards the nearest trees, and creep slowly up their trunks. In a few days afterwards they are followed by the winged and active males, which flutter about and accompany them in their ascent, during which the insects pair. Soon after this:the females lay their eggs upon the branches of the trees, placing them on their ends, close together in rows, forming clusters of from sixty to one hundred eggs or more, which is the number usually laid by each female. The eggs are glued to each other, and to the bark, by a grayish varnish, which is impervious to water; and the clusters are thus securely fastened in the forks of the small branches, or close to the young twigs and buds. Immediately after the insects have thus provided for a succession of their kind, they begin to languish, and soon die The eggs are usually hatched between the first and the middle of May, or about the time that the red currant is in blossom, and the young leaves of the apple-tree begin to start from the bud and grow. The little Canker-worms, upon making their escape from the eggs, gather upon the tender leaves, and, on the occurrence of cold and wet weather, creep for shelter into the bosom of the bud, or into the flowers when the latter appears. A very great difference of color is observable among Canker-worms of different ages, and even among those of the same age and size. It is possible that some of these variations
may arise from a difference of speCieg; but it is also true that the same species vary much in color. When very young they have two minute warts on the top of the last ring; and they are then generally of a blackish or dusky-brown color, with a yellowish stripe on each aide of the body; there are two whitish bands across the head, and the belly is also whitish. When fully grown these individuals become ash-eoIored on the back, anti black on the sides, below which the pale yellowish line remains. Some are found of a dull greenish-yellow and others of a clay color, with slender interrupted blackish lines on the sides, and small spots of the same color on the back. Some are green, with two white stripes on the back. The head and the feet partake of the general color of the body; the belly is paler. When not eating, they remain stretched out at full length, and resting on their fore and hind legs, beneath the leaves. When fully grown and well fed, they measure nearly or quite one inch in length. They leave off eat ing when about four weeks old, and begin to quit the trees; some creep down by the trunk, hut great numbers let themselves down by their threads from the branches, their instinct prompt ing them to get to the ground by the most direct and easiest course. When thus descending, and suspended in great numbers under the limbs of trees overhanging the road, tht:y are often swept off by passing carriages, and are thus conveyed to other places. After reaching the ground, they immediately burrow in the earth to the depth of from two to six inches, unless prevented by weakness or the nature of the soil. In the latter case, they die, or undergo their transforma tions on the surface. We give cuts of the Fall Canker-worm, male and female, larva and chrys alis. Fig. 1 represents • a, b, egg, side and top views; e, d, joints of larva, side and top views,, magnified; e, batch of eggs; f, full grown larva; g, female chrysalis, natural size; h, top view of, and tubercle of, chrysalis enlarged. Fig. 2 shows: a, male moth ; b, female, natural size: c, Joints.