59 



feeder, sometimes leaving the trees and attacking the vegetables in 

 gardens. Thus far it is confined to a limited area in Massachu- 

 setts, and as vigorous efforts are being made to destroy it, we may 

 hope that it will spread no further. The moth, commonly known 

 as the Gipsy moth, is of considerable size, being sometimes two 

 and a half inches across the wings, although it varies consid- 

 erably in size, and is often much less than this, while the 

 males are nearly an inch less than the female. The wings on 

 the female are light yellow with brown scalloped lines crossing 

 the front wings, and a row of black spots along the outer edge. 

 The hind wings are of uniform color, except at the edge, where 

 there is an irregular band or row of blotches. The eggs are 

 placed on the branches of the trees in late summer, and hatch the 

 next spring into caterpillars, which feed upon the leaves of trees, 

 an d finally become nearly two inches long, of a dark color, 

 marked with light yellow, and there is a line of yellow spots along 

 the back ; along the sides are long tufted hairs. 



COLEOPTERA, OR BEETLES. 



This gigantic group very naturally includes quite a ninnber of 

 species that infest the elm. Some of these are among the worst 

 enemies of this tree ; others, though more or less injurious 

 to the elm, are much more so to other trees or plants. As was 

 shown in the first part of this article, many beetles are to be re- 

 garded as friends, since they destroy many injurious insects. The 

 common and sometimes very troublesome 



GRAPEVINE FLEA BEETLE, 



occasionally attacks the elm. This little beetle Graptodera 

 chalybea^ III.^ is injurious not only in the larval, but also in the 

 perfect, state. As they come from their hiding places in early 

 spring, the beetles attack the unfolding leaves. They remain but 

 a short time, but the eggs which they deposit on the leaves soon 

 hatch, and the larvas continue the work of devastation with in- 

 creased vigor. 



Figure 46 shows the various stages of this beetle, and its bright, 

 metallic blue wings and body are sufficiently familiar, especially 

 to vine growers to render a detailed description unnecessary. Air 

 slaked lime dusted over the infested leaves, kerosene emulsion, 

 arsenical mixtures properly, are generally cflbctive remedies. 



