314 



INSECTS TNFESTTNG THE POTATO. 



Fig. 311. 



Fig. 311. — Potato Moth — color, ash-gray. 



V r The moth (Fig. 811) is of an ash-gray color; 



^j^MybMS^ length of body, ahoiit four lines ; spread of wings, 

 ^^^T^^^ seven to eight lines ; fore-wings dark ash-gray, 

 ciliated ; hind wings lighter in color, and also 

 ciliated. The moths aiipear a1»(>ut the first of -Tuly. and 

 deposit their eggs in potatoes after the latter are gathered 

 from the ground and plac(>(l in heaps or in sacks. The fol- 

 lowing letter was received from a gentleman who has suffered 

 from this pest : 



" Yours at hand, and in reply [ will say that the lar\ a does 

 not attack the potatoes in the ground, hut it is after they are 

 tak(^n from the grcnmd (dug) and placed in bulk that the moth 

 deposits her eggs on the potatoes, especially on those on the 

 top of the heaps. Some arc infested to such an extent as to 

 appear like a honeycomb. Last year (1882) the moths ap- 

 peared about the first of July, and were present in all stages 

 of their existence until the first of February, 1888. When I 

 noticed them first in 1881, the potato(!S on top of the heaps 

 were seriously infested. I covered the entire heaps with old 

 sacks ; as soon as the larvae were full grown they left the pota- 

 toes and made their cocoons on the under side of the sacks, 

 in which to pass their transformation. When the sacks were 

 taken off there was not a space the size of a silver dollar but 

 had one or more cocoons attached. In order to prevent its 

 further spread I have burned the sacks, straw coverings and 

 sheds, and removed the storing place to a distant part of my 

 place." 



This pest is reported from 

 three counties. There are evi- 

 dently two or three broods each 

 year. To prevent this pest from 

 injuring the cro]) ol" jiotatoes 

 after they are gathered, the po- 

 tatoes should be covered with 

 earth, or placed in what is called 

 a)iit,in England, which is made 



hy piling the jxitatoes in a heap and putting a covering of 

 from four to six inches of earth on them (See Fig. 811^), or 



