108 THR ENTOMOLOGIST. 



numbers. Dr. Shiraer constructs a new genus, Lepidoraphis, 

 for this species, and proposes for it a new family, Lepidora- 

 pliidae, which he adds to the two previous families, 

 Dactylosphaeridge and Coccidaj. — Francis Walker. 



Ravages of the Winter Moth. — I enclose you a box of larvae 

 which are doing an immense amount of harm to our cherry 

 orchards now. Last season, about this time, the trees (over 

 1000) in a neighbour's orchard were entirely stripped of 

 leaves. Our orchard, which is about the same size and only 

 separated by a field, was not nearly so bad, yet there were 

 enough to deface the trees considerably. The orchard which 

 was most attacked last year is again very full of the cater- 

 pillar, and our neighbour is having the trees washed with a 

 mixture, the same as we use for hop-washing, which effectu- 

 ally destroys Aphides ; but ] think as the larvaj spin the 

 leaves together they will not be much hurt by it. Would you 

 kindly tell me the name of the moth they will come to, and 

 impart any information respecting them ? Do you know of 

 any plan of destroying them ? I shall try and study their 

 habits myself this year. — W. J. Skelton ; The Bounds^ 

 Heme Hill, near Faversham, May 3, 1872. 



The larvae sent are those of the winter moth, Cheimatobia 

 brumata. I have given a full life-history of this insect at 

 p. 106 of the ' British Moths,' but will recapitulate a few of 

 the leading particulars. The eggs are laid during November 

 and December in the crevices of the bark of fruit trees, 

 or even on the rind of the small twigs : when laid they are 

 greenish white, but become orange, and subsequently brown 

 before hatching, which takes place about the end of April. 

 The caterpillars commence their destructive career by eating 

 the young unexpanded buds. At this time of year bullfinches, 

 sparrows and titmice render the most important service to the 

 gardener by eating these buds, and thus destroying this little 

 pest of the orchard and garden. When the leaves have begun 

 to expand each caterpillar draws two or three together, and 

 unites them by a silken web, coming out partially to feed, 

 and retiring again within the domicile when satisfied. All the 

 passerine birds feed on these larvae : the young nestlings are 

 supplied with no other support than the larvan of n)oths, and 

 these of the winter moth, being the most abundant, are most 

 in demand ; millions upon millions are pulled out of their 



