198 MANUAL OF VEGETABLE-GARDEN INSECTS 



caterpillars that web together and devour the unfolding blossom 

 heads. The insect is widely distributed in Europe and eastern 

 North America. It feeds on wild parsnip, wild carrot and 

 other umbelliferous plants. 



The insect hibernates in the adult stage. The small grayish 

 moths are found under flakes of bark, in crevices, or in similar 

 situations. The moth has an average expanse of about an 

 inch. The front wings are brownish gray marked with inter- 

 rupted longitudinal dark lines and a small black spot near the 

 center. The hind wings are pearl-gray. Over-wintered speci- 

 mens are usually much rubbed and are much lighter in appear- 

 ance. The moths deposit their eggs singly in May, Jime and 

 July on the leaves, stems and particularly on the sheath sur- 

 rounding the flower-head. The egg is elongate, oval, pearly 

 white, ribbed longitudinally, and about q\ inch in length. 

 The eggs hatch in about seven days and the young caterpillars 

 enter the flower-buds, where they feed, webbing them together 

 with silk. When the flower-cluster opens, the caterpillars re- 

 main in the protection of the web and continue to feed on the 

 flowers and later on the seeds. They become full-grown in 

 four to five weeks. The mature caterpillar is about f inch in 

 length, greenish yellow above, lighter yellow on the sides and 

 beneath. The head, cervical shield and thoracic legs are 

 shiny black. The body is sparsely clothed with hairs arising 

 from small black warts. 



When nearly mature, the caterpillars leave the flower-heads 

 and burrow into the stems, usually in the axils of the leaves. 

 After entering the stem, the caterpillar feeds for a short time 

 and then constructs a slight cocoon of silk and excrement in 

 which pupation takes place. The pupa is about j- inch in 

 length, with a dark brown thorax and light brown abdomen. 

 The moths emerge in about three weeks and soon go into hiber- 

 nation in sheltered places. 



No practical method of controlling this insect has been de- 



