130 



leaf and the bud of leaf and blossom in early spring-, thus often 

 arresting" the g-rowth of the branch or tree by destroying the ter- 

 minal bud. Owing to its early attack, it may do an injury far out 

 of proportion to its numbers. It is so secreted and protected upon 

 the young- nursery tree that it is certain to be sent with it whether 

 the latter be shipped in fall or in spring. 



The presence of this insect is most easily recognized in winter, 

 when the trees are bare, by the presence of clusters of brown 

 shriveled or crumpled and partly eaten leaves, fastened tog-ether and 

 anchored to the trees by means of silken threads (Fig-. 17). If one 

 of these ragged masses is pulled apart, in the center of it will be 

 found a crooked leathery tube shaped like an irregular horn, and 



within thisag-ain, a small reddish 

 brown caterpillar with a dark 

 brown head. In spring-, a badly 

 infested tree will have its leaves 

 more or less eaten and fastened 

 together in bunches, the leaf- 

 crumpler being- commonly secreted 

 within the bunch. 



This cateroillar may be found 

 on apple, plum, cherry, peach, and 

 quince The destruction of the 

 terminal bud of course stops direct 

 growth, and results in the forma- 

 tion of a mass of lateral branches 

 from the twig-, g-iving" the young- 

 tree a stunted and scrubby look, 

 which injures it for sale as a nur- 

 sery tree, and retards its growth 

 and diminishes its vig-or in the 

 orchard. When very abundant 

 the young- caterpillar may not only attack the leaves and swelling- 

 buds, but eat the young fruit and g-naw away the tender bark and 

 g-rowing- twig-s. The injury is done mainly at nig-ht. 



It reaches its growth from the middle to the latter part of 

 May, being at this time about half an inch in leng-th and entirely 

 g-reen. It g-oes through the pupa stag-e in its larval nest, and the 

 small grayish moths appear in June and July, laying- their eg-gs 

 almost at once. These hatch in about a week, and the small 

 brown caterpillars beg-in at once to feed upon the young-er leaves. 

 Each presently makes a tube or case about its body by spinning- a 

 silk thread and weaving in with this particles of its own excre- 



Fie. i6. 



The Leaf-crumi'Lf.k : a, 

 tube of larva; d, cluster of 

 tubes and leaves, r, head 

 end of larva; d, adult moth. 



