354 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE- 



people are likely to escape, as the caterpillars drop from the 

 branches and creep about, even entering houses. Direct con- 

 tact with the insects themselves is not necessary, however, for 

 when the caterpillars shed their skins the molts are blown 

 about, widely scattering the barbed hairs. 



The caterpillars are usually full grown in June. They then 

 spin loose cocoons, attached commonly to leaves, though some 

 times other shelter is sought. Within these they transform to 

 brown pupae about three-fourths of an inch long. From the 

 first to the twentieth of July the moths with pure white wings 

 and brown-tipped abdomens emerge from these cocoons to 

 deposit eggs for the next generation of caterpillars. 



REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



Destruction of breeding places. — Old and worthless orchard 

 trees, wild cherry tangles and other susceptible trees in infested 

 regions should be cleared away, thus lessening the labor of 

 direct search for the destruction of winter nests, by eliminating 

 likely breeding places. 



Cutting and burning the winter nests. — This is the most im- 

 portant of the direct remedies because it is the easiest, cheap- 

 est and, if thoroughly done, a sufficient protection against the 

 ravages of this pest. The webs and leaves that compose the 

 nest are woven tightly to the tips of the branches and hang 

 there like dead leaves all winter. With so many months for 

 inspection there is no excuse for harboring the hibernating 

 caterpillars on shade or orchard trees. After they are cut from 

 the branches the nests should be burned, as this is the simplest 

 way of destroying the colony within. 



Spraying. — The 5^oung caterpillars can be killed by arsenical 

 sprays (Formula 6). This remedy is most effective when ap- 

 plied as soon as the leaves develop in the spring. Of course 

 where the winter nests have been destroyed there will be no 

 need of this remedy and it is much easier to kill about two hun- 

 dred caterpillars enclosed in a nest than to wait until they are 

 scattered over the tree. 



