PRACTICAL ENTOMOLOGY. 159 



ON SOME INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETATION. 



In the following remarks on some of the insects prejudicial to the 

 farmer, I have drawn freely from various sources whatever seemed 

 best adapted to my purpose. To assist in a clear understanding 

 and easier recognition, the names are placed under their appropriate 

 orders and as full description given of each as was practicable. The 

 Latin or entomological names are given in parentheses. 



Lepidoptera. 



Lackey moth or apple tree caterpillar, " ( CUsiocampa Ameri- 

 cana.^ Moth or perfect insect, an inch and one-half and less across 

 the expanded wings, dull reddish color, with two white stripes across 

 the fore wings. They are ■ most numerous about the first of July, 

 ■when they deposit their eggs in clusters or belts upon the twigs of 

 the trees, where they remain until the next spring, when the warm 

 weather hatches the eggs. As soon as the larva or worm comes 

 from the egg, it begins spinning from its mouth a fine thread with 

 ■which it forms itself a residence, from which it emerges to feed upon 

 the leaves of the trees. As they increase in size they change their 

 skin, or moult, five or six times, giving them a diversified appear- 

 ance. By June they become full grown and disperse to some re- 

 treat where they spin their cocoons and undergo the change into 

 pupje, from which they come forth a moth or winged insect as above 

 described. 



This variety of caterpillar is so numerous and common as to be 

 called tJie caterpillar, and is one of the worst enemies of the or- 

 chard. Various methods may be employed to destroy them, as cut- 

 ting off the twigs containing the eggs and burning them, breaking 

 off the twig containing the nest and crushing them, and burning the 

 nest by using a swab of cotton dipped in turpentine fastened on the 

 end of a pole, and set on fire. A valuable auxiliary is found in a 

 large beetle which lives in the gardens, called the caterj)illar hunter 

 which lives upon and destroys the various kinds of caterpllars. 



The codling moth or apple worm, {Carjiocapsa Pomonella.^ 

 The moth is three quarters of an inch, wings expanded. Its wings 

 are very beautiful, resembling watered silk, in color grayish brown. 

 It lays its eggs during June and July in the caly calyx or blossom 

 end of the young fruit, where it hatches and the young grub cuts its 



