IG 



APPLE. 



to lie — first, in destroying infested Apples ; second, in trap- 

 ping the caterpillars and destroying their shelters ; and 

 third, on being well on the alert at the time of the blossoming 

 of the Apple, and by careful spraying preventing the very 

 beginning of the attack. 



Figure-of-8 Moth and Blue-head Caterpillar. 



JJiloba cantleocephala, Linn. 





'-iMs '^ J!^. 



DiLOBA c.EEULEocEPHALA, — Figure-of-8 Moth, and ("blue-head") caterpillar. 



The caterpillars of this moth feed on the leafage of various 

 kinds of orchard trees, especially of Apple and Plum, and also 

 of Hawthorn and the Blackthorn or Sloe. In some seasons, 

 especially about 18D0, specimens of these fine larvre were re- 

 gularly sent amongst samples of the various kinds which were 

 doing mischief in the orchards, but for some years back they 

 have only rarely been forwarded. 



The Figure-of-8 Moth is about an inch and a quarter in the 

 spread of the wings. The fore wings brownish or grey-brown, 

 marked, as shown above, with black lines and white spots, 

 one pair of which, formed of two small white kidney- formed 

 figures in the middle of each wing, form the marking like the 

 number "8," which gives its name to the moth. The hinder 

 wings are brownish, with darker rays and dark patch at the 

 hinder angle, as figured above. 



The eggs are laid singly in September on the stems and 

 branches of the trees, or sometimes in clusters of six or eight 

 at the base of lateral shoots. These are said by some writers 

 to be green in colour ; but in some observations by the late 

 William Buckler of eggs of this species taken during the 

 winter, he mentions that " they were brown and apparently 

 ribbed, but the ribs could not be counted, as they were so 

 curiously covered with brown hairs." * 



The eggs hatch in the spring at the time of the appearance 

 of the young leafage, and the caterpillars are full-fed about 



* 'Larvae of British Butterflies and Moths,' by W. Buckler (Ray Society), 

 vol. iii. p. 1. 



