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Malacosoma Disstria
The moth is universally distributed through the United States and Canada. It appears to be rather variable, and a number of subspecies or varietal forms have been recognized. Many of the races, if such they can be called, differ so little from the typical stock that it hardly appears worth while to regard the names which have been applied to them as other than synonyms.
The habits of the larvae are almost identical with those of the species to which reference has already been made. Like them, they prefer to attack the Rosaceae, although they also at times feed upon other trees. The hickories of various species and the walnuts are not exempt from their ravages. The writer has never observed them feeding upon oaks, birch, or beeches. An excellent account of the habits of these creatures may be found in Riley's Missouri Reports, Number III, from which the illustrations here given have been taken. The means of holding the insects in check are the same which have been recommended in the case of M. americana.