41 li 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL [NSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



occasionally renewed. These barriers mus1 be put in place during 

 September and October and continued until spring. 



Spray with arsenate of lead, 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water, just 

 before the blossoms open, and again in one week. 



Natural Enemies. — This species is subject to the same natural 

 enemies as is the spring cankerworm. 



THE SPRING CANKERWORM 



Paleacrita vernata (Peck) (Family Geometridse) 



[Anisopterix vernata (Peck)] 



(Phalama vernata Peck) 



(Figs. 422, 423) 



Description. — The larva' are dark olive-green, brown or nearly 

 black, very slender and about 1 inch long. Because of their looping 



method of traveling they are often 

 called measuring worms. In this 

 species they possess but two pairs 

 of legs on the under side of the 



Fig. -li':.'. — Apricot branch showing the 

 work of the larvae of the spring canker- 

 worm on fruit and foliage. (After Craw, 

 Cal. Hort. Com. > 



Fig. 423. — Larva of the spring 

 cankerworm, Paleacrita vernata 

 (Peck), on pear leaf. Slightly en- 

 larged. ( ( triginal) 



posterior half of the body. The cocoon is composed of tough silken web, 

 which is not easily broken. The pupa is grayish-brown. The female 

 is wingless and covered with soft gray down. The male is winged and 

 gray in color. The eggs are regularly oval. 



