144 fNSECTS INFESTING THE PIMM TREE. 



CHAPTER LXXXIL 



The Plum Moth. 



(Scma-sia pi'iiniand — Walsh. ) 



Order, Lepidoptek.v ; Family, Toktricid.e. 



[Living in plums, apples and crab-apples ; a dingy white or 

 brownish-yellow sixteen-legged worm, having a black head.] 



It is not knoAvn with certainty whether this larva will attack 

 sound fruit, or whether it only infests fruit which has l^een 

 attacked by some other insect, but the latter is perhaps the 

 case, and, if this view is correct, then this insect cannot be 

 regarded as being very injurious to the orchard. AVhen fully 

 grown, this worm measures about three lines in length ; it then 

 deserts the fruit and spins a dark colored cocoon, which is 

 fastened to some neighboring object. 



The perfect moth has the fore-wings black and variously 

 marked with red, blue and white, the latter forming seven 

 short streaks along the front edge of the wing ; the hind wings 

 are grayish next the body, shading into black at the tips. 

 This insect was bred by Mr. AValsh from the plum ; the black 

 knot ; a gall produced by plant-lice on an elm leaf ; and a gall 

 made by a four-winged tiy on an oak leaf, and Professor 

 Riley has bred it from the apple, crab-apple and haws. 



This insect is described in order that investigations may be 

 made by those who have ])lums infested by a small whitish 

 larva. I have been unable to procure specimens, but I know 

 of at least six localities in Avhich plums are infested l)y a smal 

 caterpillar. 



