The Bud Moth. 47 



killed, by the wasp, and thus furnish a very delicious morsel for 

 the grub when it hatches from the egg. In June, 1892, a cell of this 

 wasp was found which contained six nearly full grown larvae of the 

 Bud Moth, and a smaller green larva. About the same time a corres- 

 pondent wrote that he saw a wasp pick a brown larva out of a cluster 

 of leaves on a quince tree; doubtless it was a Bud Moth larva. 



Not only is this pest attacked by foes among its own kind but the 

 birds also seem to take a part in its destruction. Mr. J. Fletcher in 

 his Report for 1885, quotes from Rev. J. R. Hart, of Bridgetown, N. 

 S., as follows: "Two years ago our apple trees were attacked by a 

 large number of brown grubs which ate the young leaves and fruit 

 buds just as they were opening. I tried to watch them developing, 

 but the birds so industriously gathered them uj) that I could find none 

 coming to maturity." 



Doubtless all of these foes aid considerably in keeping the pest in 

 check, but it has now become so numerous and wide spread that its 

 enemies are insufficient and the devices of man must be called into 

 action. 



Methods of Pre vkk ting the Ravages of this Pest. 



Previous to 18S7, the principal method recommended to prevent the 

 ravages of this pest was to hand-pick and destroy the nests contain- 

 ing the larvje or pup:e in the spring. The nests are rendered quite 

 conspicuous at this time by the dead brown leaves in them. This of 

 course is the suiest method to prevent the further increase of the pest. 

 But by the time the work of the larva' has progress^ d far enough to 

 render its nest conspicuous, the insect has done its worst damage; the 

 growth of the shoot has been checked, or if a fruit bud most of the 

 flowers aie destroyed. The most serious objection to this method, 

 however, is that it is impracticable on a large scale. On a few small 

 choice trees it could be done profitably. But the pest must not be 

 allowed to get such a foothold upon the developing foliage and blos- 

 soms. Fruit growers can not afford to wait until after the developing 

 and new growth are "nipped in the bud" before placing any obsta- 

 cles in the way of the depredator. 



The principal aim and end had in view in all the observations made 

 upon the pest here at the Insectory during the past two years has been 

 to find just what obt-tacle could be used to check the insect before its 

 most destructive period was reached; and especially at just what 

 period the obstacle could be presented the most effectively. 



In the adult stage, as a moth, the pest does no damage to the fruit 

 or trees. It feeds but little, if any, during its short lifetime of two or 



