4 
REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST AND BOTANIST. 179 
SESSIONAL PAPER No. 8a 
Though the injuries to fruit crops by the Clover Mite have not been serious in 
Canada east of the Rocky Mountains, a good deal of harm is done in the Pacific States 
and in British Columbia to many fruit trees, particularly plums, apples, almonds and 
cherries, and together with other kinds of mites this is often spoken of under the general 
name of ‘Red Spider.’ Besides the injuries above referred to, there is no doubt much 
damage is done by this insect to clovers and grasses which is overlooked. 
Remedies.—The protection of fruit trees from the attacks of this mite is not difficult 
where the winter is chiefly passed in the egg state on the trunks of trees. It has been 
found that spraying the egg masses during the winter with kerosene emulsion diluted with 
five parts of water will destroy the eggs without injuring the plants. Their entrance 
into houses in autumn may be prevented by spraying the lower portions of the buildings 
with pure kerosene, and, if the mites are found infesting grasses or other plants, these 
latter should also he sprayed with kerosene emulsion diluted with nine parts of water, to 
which some finely powdered sulphur can be added with advantage. When the mites 
have gained access to a house, they may be destroyed by the free use of pyrethrum 
insect powder or by burning brimstone in the room. Gasoline or benzine may be sprayed 
over them, but these liquids are dangerous from their extreme inflammability, and 
hot water frequently applied would answer the same purpose. 
THE GREENHOUSE LEAF-TYER 
(Pliyctenia ferrugalis, Hbn.). 
Attack —Slender semi-translucent green caterpillars, when full grown nearly an 
inch in length, with two distinct black spots close behind the head, the green dorsal 
vessel showing distinctly down the middle of the back, bordered on each side with a 
double white band, feeding inside a slight tent made by drawing the sides of leaflets 
together with silk threads. The cellular tissue of the lower sides only of the leaves is 
eaten. 
During the past summer I had brought to my notice injuries to roses in the green- 
houses of Mr. J. H. Dunlop, of Toronto, by the caterpillars of a small European moth, 
which has been introduced into America for some years and has been occasionally 
noticed as a greenhouse pest, and on one occasion as injuring celery out of doors in 
Michigan. Mr. Dunlop first noticed the work of this insect about three years ago, 
when it destroyed the whole of the roses in one of his houses, and did much harm in 
others. The only effort to control it was by catching the moths and destroying them. 
Every year since 1897 the caterpillars have been the cause of some loss. On October 
13 last, Mr. Arthur Gibson visited the houses and saw large numbers of the moths 
flying among the roses and resting on the sides of the house. Living caterpillars were 
also found of all sizes at this time and appeared to feed almost entirely on the under 
sides of the leaves, eating away the soft green tissues and spoiling the appearance of 
the foliage. From the time they hatch until full-grown, the caterpillars live in tents 
made by drawing down the leaflets of the leaves; the cocoons are spun between the 
leaves. In a work entitled Commercial Violet Culswre by Mr. B. T. Galloway, of 
Washington, it is stated that violets are sometimes attacked during the summer by this 
insect, the larve attacking the leaves and destroying the softer parts, leaving only the 
skeleton or frame of the tissues. The caterpillars are surrounded by a light web and 
occasionally two leaves are fastened together to give them protection. It is further 
stated that the insect never produces serious injury, but it is advisable to watch for it 
and take such steps for it as may be practicable. The picking of the leaves containng 
the larve is recommended and, if it should become abundant, fumigation with hydrocy- 
anic acid gas. 
A second visit was made on December 26, and although the specimens were 
many fewer, the houses having been carefully gone over, a moth was found flying, 
and a cocoon containing the living pupa, but no caterpillars. Mr. Dunlop states that 
the caterpillars may be found all through the winter. 
S8a—12} 
