CARKOT-BLOSSOM MOTH. 47 



Carrot-blossom Moth. Depnmaria dauccUa, Curtis. 



The caterpillars of this small moth sometimes do much 

 harm to the Carrot seed-crop in July and August. 



They draw the tips of the flowering head (the umbel) 

 together with their webs, and inside this chamber they feed 

 on the flowers and seeds. 



The caterpillar is greenish grey, or yellowish, with black 

 hairy warts, and some faint streaks along the back ; and the 

 head, as well as the upper side of the first segment behind it, 

 is brown or black ; it is onl}^ about half an inch long when 

 full-grown. 



Sometimes the caterpillar changes to the chrysalis in the 

 flower-head ; sometimes it bores for this purpose into the 

 stem. 



The moth is little more than three-quarters of an inch in 

 the spread of the upper wings. The head and body between 

 the wings are reddish brown, freckled with black ; the upper 

 wings are of the same colour, freckled with white, and having 

 black streaks, and the under side is dark ; the hind wings are 

 light grey. 



Prevention and Kemedies. — The caterpillars fall down by 

 a thread when disturbed, therefore shaking the Carrot-tops 

 and destroying the caterpillars that fall is a good remedy ; 

 but it should be remembered that unless the grub is im- 

 mediately destroyed, or its return prevented, it will go back 

 again, and no good will be done by the shaking. 



Powdered hellebore is suggested as being a good thing to 

 dust over the infested plants, applied when the dew is on. 



It is stated by various writers that this moth much prefers 

 the Parsnip to the Carrot for deposit of her eggs, and con- 

 sequently, by planting Parsnips about eight feet apart amongst 

 the Carrots, the latter will be saved from attack, and also the 

 Parsnip-tops, with the caterpillars and chrysalids thus col- 

 lected, may be conveniently gathered and burnt. This, how- 

 ever, needs a deal of care, or the caterpillars will drop down 

 by their threads and escape. Breaking the heads off over a 

 tub is suggested as a good remedy by John Curtis in ' Farm 

 Insects,' from which the above notes regarding Carrot Moths 

 have chiefly been taken ; but it would be well in this case to 

 have a thick mixture of soot and water, or quick-lime, or any- 

 thing that would destroy them at once or prevent their escape, 

 placed at the bottom of the tub, rather than to depend on 

 burning. 



