The Pith Moth. 71 



it" broken off will be found to contain the Pith Moth caterpillar or 

 pupa, usually situated near the apex of a shoot. 



The larva (g) is dull reddish-brown with a deep brown head and 

 first segment ; the other segments show more or less traces of pale 

 brown spots four in a row on the second and third segments and 

 four placed in a quadrangle on the remaining segments. The two 

 anterior segments have two lateral spots and the remainder a single 

 lateral spot. The apex is deep brown. When mature they reach one- 

 third of an inch in length and then pupate near the apex of the shoot 

 they have tunnelled. They reach their full-fed stage during the last 

 two weeks in June. If the dead shoots are picked off, the moth can 

 be easily bred. 



The pupa (d) is of an ochraceous hue ; the head and front of the 

 thorax and tip of the body mahogany red. It is cylindrical in form 

 and about one-fourth of an inch long. On the ventral surface of the 

 penultimate segment are two blunt processes separate and diverging 

 outwards, hairy at their apices (Fig. 7, c) ; the eyes are black and the 

 wing cases and legs long, the former pointed. This stage lasts from 

 two to three weeks, the moths emerging from the end of June into 

 July. The pupas may sometimes be seen projecting from the dead 

 shoot. Stainton says the larvre also occur in hawthorn berries in 

 September and that the black variety only is found in apple shoots 

 in Februaiy and March. 



Preventive Measuees. 



It is quite obvious that there can be no remedy for this pest, but 

 we can do much in the way of prevention by hand-picking the dead 

 shoots before the moths emerge in June. This can only be done, of 

 course, where small trees are attacked, and it usually happens that it 

 is only on such trees that the attack takes place. 



Late spraying with Paris green would probably prove beneficial, 

 as it would kill the young larvse, which seem to feed first of all on 

 the leaves. Of course, care must be taken in regard to the fruit. 

 The trees should be washed not less than four weeks before the fruit is 

 gathered, but as soon as it is harvested a heavy spraying may be given. 



The time to spray therefore must depend on the variety of apple 

 concerned. This is certainly worth giving a fair trial, as beyond 

 hand-picking we can do nothing to check the increase of this pest, so 

 noticeable during the past few years. 



