IBG BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS. 



sometimes known as " Geometricians," and the family 

 of moths to which they belong as the Geometridce. 



The method of life of both the above kinds is for 

 the caterpillars to hatch in the spring, on the orchard 

 trees on which the eggs have been laid, and feed on, 

 or possibly fairly ravage, the leafage and all the soft 

 growths, during a period which may be from about the 

 end of March until the end of June. Then the cater- 

 pillars leave the trees, and go through the change to 

 chrysalis state beneath them. This may be just 

 about the surface of the ground or a little below. 

 From these the moths begin to come out in October 

 or November, and the wingless female moths creep up 

 the trees and deposit their eggs. This habit, if the 

 moths only went up the trees during a special period, 

 would put means of prevention at once in our hands. 

 But even as it is, the infestation may be greatly 

 reduced by putting bands of sticky material round 

 the trunks, such as will either deter the moths from 

 trying to go up, or hold them firm if they try to cross. 

 This plan catches the moths by hundreds on each 

 tree, but care must be taken lest the mixture applied 

 should injure the bark. On the rugged thick bark of 

 old trees, where the outside is a mere dry dead coating, 

 it is possible that even tar may be applied without 

 doing harm, though not without risk. But with 

 young trees there is very great danger of serious 

 injury, and sometimes great losses have taken place 

 consequently on tar or grease being applied direct to 

 the bark. The application soaks into the tissues, 

 and the tree in such case perishes. 



The safest way is to begin by passing a band of 

 tough grease-proof paper, such as may be procured 

 at very small cost from grocers, round the tree. This 

 may be about seven inches wide, but the wider the 

 better ; the ends should overlap, and the paper be 

 secured in its place by a piece of string being tied 

 round near the upper and lower edges. On this the 

 grease may be smeared. A flat bit of wood, like a 



