40 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



uncover any recently introduced infestations, the methods we 

 employed, of destroying all trees infested, is working so well 

 that the extermination of the scale seems in sight. 



Fall Webworm, Red Humped Caterpillar and Yellow 



Necked Caterpillar. 



These three fall caterpillar- feed at about the same season — 

 August and September. They are all three well controlled by 

 parasites and seldom do extensive damage, as they confine their 

 attention, usually, to the leaves of a young tree or one limb of a 

 full-grown tree. If they ever get so bad that hand-picking will 

 not control them, spraying with lead arsenate, three or four 

 pounds to 50 gallons, will control them. The best work in 

 poisoning them can be done when they are young. 



Tussock Moth. 



This insect is sometimes very common in apple orchards in 

 the fall. It is controlled by parasites, after being numerous 

 for two or three years ; this accounts for its regular periods of 

 increase, extending five or six years, with a sudden decrease at 

 the end of the period. The tussock not only feeds on the 

 leaves in the fall, but gnaws at the surface of the growing fruit 

 often in bad infestations, destroying one-half of the crop. The 

 holes eaten by the tussock are easily distinguished from those 

 of the fruit worms by their being more shallow, irregular, 

 covering often one-quarter of the surface of the apple and, 

 being eaten later in the season, they do not heal out so well as 

 those of the fruit worms. 



The tussock caterpillar is easily distinguished, being about one 

 and one-quarter inches in length, hairy, with two tufts or pen- 

 cils of hairs extending forward from each side of the head 

 and one projecting backward from the tail. It also has four 

 tufts of white hairs in a row along the back. 



The sprays that you employ here are not applied at the right 

 time for tussock control. If you notice tussocks getting into 

 your orchards you will have to spray with lead arsenate when 

 they begin to feed, probal)ly about July 15. Once an orchard 

 is ridden of them, it will take two or three years for it to be- 

 come reinfested, as the females cannot fly but deposit their 

 eggs on the outside of the cocoon in which they pupated. The 



