104 FEUIT INtiECTS 



The California Tussock-moth 

 Hemerocanipa vetusta Boisduval 



This native California tussock caterpillar has been recorded 

 only from that state, where it is common on live oak and yellow 

 lupin trees, and has injuriously infested apple and cherry or- 

 chards. There is but a single brood annually, the moths appear- 

 ing in May, June and July and laying their eggs on their empty 

 cocoons in light grayish masses covered with hairs from the 

 mother's body. Some of the egg-clusters hatch as early as 

 February, while others may not until April or May. The cater- 

 pillars feed on the foliage from one and a half to two months. 

 They have black heads, crimson hair-bearing warts and pro-legs, 

 and the four tussocks or })rush-like tufts of hairs on the back are 

 often dark gray with brownish crests. The practically wingless 

 grub-like female moths have dark brown bodies covered with 

 sordid white hairs. The males resemble those of the antique 

 tussock-moth but are of a darker chestnut-brown color. The 

 general life-habits of this California tussock-moth are similar to 

 those of the two eastern species. 



Natural enemies. 



Tachina Hies and other parasites sometimes de\stroy half of 

 the caterpillars and pui)ie, but the birds do not seem to eat them 

 to any extent in (California. The grubs of a Dermestid beetle 

 devour some of the eggs, and others are parasitized by a minute 

 hymenopt{nx)us ins(M^t, Telenornus orgyice. 



Reniedia I treatme nts . 



Poison sprays an* rej)()rled as not very effective against the 

 caterpillars in California, the older ones after eating poisoned 

 foliage being able to transform to the moths. The measures 

 recommended are the collecting and destroying of the eggs 

 during the winter season, and the })eating or jarring of the 

 caterpillars from the trees, then preventing their ascent with 



