_ ORCHARD CATERPILLARS. 
~ Winter Moth. ~Cheimatobia brumata, Linn. 
CHEIMATOBIA BRUMATA.—Male moth ; and female moths showing abortive 
wings. 
The excessive cold of the early part of 1895 had certainly no effect 
in lessening infestation of the common orchard and fruit-tree cater- 
pillars, as, for instance, the looper caterpillars of the Winter Moth, 
which did exceeding damage in various localities, not only to fruit-tree 
leafage, but-also, and ona broad scale, to Oaks. Other kinds of cater- 
pillars were more or less present; but the following notes are selected 
from the many observations sent me as bearing on some special points 
regarding the Winter Moths which it may be useful to draw attention 
to without repetition of what has been previously entered on. 
Mr. Masters’ prediction (sent on February 25th) of coming infes- 
tation shows the use of being alert in autumn whether moths are 
expected or not. — im! ae 
Mr. Goodwin’s note gives definite observation of continuance of 
moth appearance from about the end of October up to the end of 
December. This is a very important point practically; and Mr. 
Goodwin’s observation of finding Winter Moths out on the night of 
the 1st of March confirms previous observations of late appearance of 
this pest. All this joimed to what we previously know of dates of 
appearances during the winter showing that though grease-banding at 
the time of the first great autumn outbreak is a most useful preventive, 
still that it is by no means to be wholly trusted to as an entire check 
to the ascent of the female Winter Moths without unreasonable amount 
of renewals in the later winter months. 
The special kinds of trees selected for bad attack in various neigh- 
bourhoods, and amongst these the great outbreak of looper caterpillars 
on the Oaks of the Peckforton Hills in Cheshire, are also worth notice; 
but during the season of infestation, short observations of the unusual 
amount of mischief going forward were so frequently added to report 
letters regarding other insects, that more than just the chief points 
mentioned would be undesirable, 
