350 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



I cannot say whether they are of the same species as the bud- 

 moth above named. Perhaps they are identical with the apri- 

 cot-bud caterpillars (Ditula angustiorana) , of Europe, the dep- 

 redations of which have been described by Mr. Westwood in 

 the fourteenth volume of the " Gardener's Magazine". Be- 

 sides picking off the curled and confined clusters of leaves, when 

 practicable, I would recommend thoroughly drenching the trees 

 with Mr. Haggerston's remedy, a pound of oil-soap in from 

 seven to ten gallons of water, in the hope that some of the mix- 

 ture might penetrate the injured buds and leaves, and destroy the 

 caterpillars concealed therein. A mixture of one gallon of the 

 liquor expressed by tobacconists from tobacco, with five gallons 

 of water, has been used to the same intent. 



Roses are infested with several kinds of caterpillars belonging 

 to this tribe. Mr. Westwood has described one of them, and 

 mentions others that are found in Europe, in the thirteenth vol- 

 ume of the " Gardener's Magazine ". Similar species are not 

 uncommon in this country. Some of these spoilers fasten upon 

 the leaves, and roll them up, or stick them together, to serve 

 them for food and shelter ; while others lurk unseen in the flower- 

 buds, and canker them to the heart, before they can spread their 

 lovely petals to the sun, and breathe out their fragrance to the 

 air. A particular description of each of these insects would oc- 

 cupy too much space here ; and I can only add that the worm in 

 the bud is to be destroyed only by hand. 



Pine and fir trees are also injured by some of the Tortrices, 

 that pierce the tender shoots and terminal buds. The seat of 

 their depredations becomes known by the oozing of the resin and 

 by the withering of the bud or shoot. The latter commonly dies 

 in consequence of the injury, the upward growth is checked, and 

 the stem only puts forth side shoots the following year. Some 

 one of these side shoots, in time, takes the place of the leading 

 shoot, and thus gives to the trunk an irregular and crooked ap- 

 pearance, and renders it unfit for timber. The history of several 

 Kuropean Tortrices or turpentine-moths, that thus injure pines 

 and firs, is given in Kollar's " Treatise", wherein we are advised 

 to search for the lumps of turpentine in the autumn, and destroy 

 the caterpillars under them, or to cut oft' the injured shoots and 



