The Bud Moth. 99 



snugly hidden in a silken case on the tree. Figure 39 represents a 

 twig, natural size, bearing three of these hibernacula at a, «, and h. 

 These little winter homes are very inconspicuous objects as they are 

 scarcely more than an eighth of an inch in length, and are covered 

 with bits of dirt from the bark or are sometimes made under some 

 convenient piece of dead leaf or bud-scale. One must be very 

 familiar with these hibernacula to be able to tind them, even on a 

 badly infested tree. The caterpillars begin to go into winter 

 quarters early in August and all are snugly tucked away before the 

 leaves fall. They instinctively build their winter homes near the 

 winter buds on the twigs so 

 they may be at hand to nip 

 the bud upon its showing 

 any signs of opening in the 

 spring. The life-cycle is com- 

 pleted with the opening of 

 spring and the appearance of 



4.1 ^ l,'i.4.1^ l^ ^ ^^4-^^ ^11. 39.— Twie showing the position of the winter homes 



the little brown caterpillars of thi caterpillar at a, a, and b, natural size. 



on the buds. 



NuTKiber of broods. — There is but one generation of the insect in 

 a year in this and more northern latitudes. The moth appears and 

 lays her eggs in June or July, and the caterpillars feed upon the 

 leaves until half-grown, in which stage they hibernate. Possibly 

 two broods may occur further south. 



Its Natural Enemies. 



In Europe, five parasites are recorded at work upon this insect. 

 Three parasites {Phytodictics vulgaris, Phnpla sp. and Miorodtcs 

 laticinctus) have been reared from it in this country ; the latter 

 species seems to be quite common in some localities. 



Besides these parasitic enemies, the bud moth is sometimes eaten 

 by birds in Canada, and we also found a large wasp {Odynerus 

 catshillensis) storing its cell with the caterpillars which must furnish 

 delicious morsels for the grub of the wasp when it hatches. 



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. 



