Reports to various Correspondents. 35 



that stren^^^tli ujj dormaut wood, even if '.>S per cent, strength of com- 

 mercial caustic soda is used. The stronger solution would, T feel 

 sure, destroy the glutinous cover over the young caterpillars. The 

 tents should always be collected as soon as they are seeu forming, 

 and burnt with their complement of larvip, or collected and put in 

 pails of quicklime. Those high up may be cut off with long-handle<l 

 shears, such as are used for tree trimming. 



The species on hawthorn hedges may be destroyed on a large 

 scale by beating the hedges with supple sticks, and treading on the 

 caterpillars as they fall down. 



The Ermine Moth caterpillars are preyed upon by starlings, whicli 

 greedily devour them, and I have bred an Ichneumon in numbers 

 from specimens collected in Kent. 



The Pith Moth. 



{Laverna atra, Haw.) 



Several fresh enquiries have been received during the past 

 summer. The pest is now kiiowu to occur in Crloucestershire, and is 

 also doing damage in other districts in Kent. It probably has a 

 wide range in the Southern part of England, but has been overlooked 

 by growers. 



The notes in the First Eeport (p. 68) were mainly from personal 

 observations. Mr. "William Bear, of Hailsham, now points out to me 

 that the larvie are found not only, as in the attack observed by me, in 

 terminal shoots, but in any shoot and bud. Mr. Bear writes as 

 follows : — " It is not only terminal shoots that are attacked, nor 

 shoots of any class alone. I find scores of the caterpillars in buds 

 rendered abortive by them." Mr. Bear sought for the eggs and 

 could find none, and doubts that the caterpillars exist on the leaves 

 in the autumn. " If the caterpillar pierces the buds tliere should be a 

 hole at the base, and I have never seen one, I say, at the base, because 

 the caterpillar is always found with its head towards the tip ot the 

 shoot." 



The moths commenced hatching out this year, both from speci- 

 mens received from Mr. Bear and those collected by myself, on July 

 12th, and continued until August tlie 10th. The moth is extremely 

 variable in colour, some being almost black, others brown, and yet 

 others with grey and whil c markings, as described in the First Eeport. 

 Unfortunately, I was not successful in getting any to lay eggs in the 

 breeding-cage, nor did I ol)servc any in. copiUd. The moths are very 

 active, running with great energy ; they usually settle on the old 



D 2 



