PITH MOTH. 



aceto-arsenite of copper. The first is the American name, now very 

 generally used in this country and many parts of the world; the 

 second is (or was) the name more especially used with us; the third, 

 I believe, is only used in Germany, or by German traders. 



Pith Moth. Laverna atra. Haw. ; L. helterella, Dup. 



Lavebna atea.— 1 and 2, moth, natural size and magnified ; 3, chrysalis in tunnelled 

 shoot, magnified ; 4, chrysalis in bud. 



Laverna atra, or the Pith Moth, is a very minute moth, of which 

 the caterpillars probably do a great deal more harm than is generally 

 known of, consequently on their working up the centre of the stems 

 just below the bunches of Apple blossom whilst the buds are still un- 

 opened, the cause of the damage not being suspected till the withering 

 of the buds draws attention to an enemy being at work in cutting off 

 supplies of sap. 



The infestation has been very rarely reported to me ; but in 1889 

 some notes of its workings in company with the caterpillars of Tmeto- 

 cera ocellana, or Eed Bud Caterpillar, were given me,* from his own 

 observations, by Mr. Oliver E. Janson, F.E.S., and in the past year 

 (1898) specimens and observations of injury to Apple leaves and 

 blossom-buds and shoots were sent me, which turned out, on rearing 

 the caterpillars to maturity, to be the work of the " Pith Moth." 



The following observations of attack, which proved to be of L. atra 

 (from the moth being subsequently reared from the infested twigs), 

 were sent me on June 20th from 21, Cavendish Koad, Birkdale, 

 Southport, by Mr. Thomas S. Webster, who wrote as follows :— 



" I enclose a couple of small caterpillars which have caused con- 

 siderable damage to the Apple trees this year. Last year there were a 



* See my Thirteenth Annual ' Report of Injurious Insects ' for 1889, pp. 81-84. 



