THE LARCH SHOOT MOTH. 1 97 



it bites a hole through the bark that will serve as a place of 

 exit for the adult moth when pupation is over. This flight- 

 hole is very small. After making the hole the larva spins 

 a light web, which covers over the little hole and pupates. 

 The moths issue in May and June — my own specimens issued 

 early in June. 



The empty pupal covering does not, as is the case with some 

 moths whose caterpillars are branch-borers, show itself pro- 

 jecting from the flight-hole, but the moth itself when ready 

 works or pushes its way through the web covering the flight- 

 hole, and so to the outside. 



Result of Damage and Signs of Attack.— In the spring of the 

 second year the attacked shoot fails to develop its buds, and 

 remains brown and withered and without needles. Occasionally 

 the dwarf shoot just above the flight-hole may produce under- 

 sized needles. As the shoot is most markedly eaten in the 

 neighbourhood of the flight-hole, breaking takes place here 

 easily, and these broken, bent-over shoots mark the infestation. 



Treatment. — The treatment that follows from a review of the 

 life-history is to break off the shoots and destroy them before 

 the escape of the moths. Unfortunately no outflow of resin or 

 appearance of excrement at the exterior is noticeable at the 

 place of infestation (marks which in other insect enemies of 

 trees serve to call timely attention to the fact that they are at 

 work), and the first sign that anything is wrong may only be 

 observed after the moth has flown. Where the moth has already 

 been at work the damage may be expected to repeat itself, and 

 this suggests special observation. 



It will be interesting, now that attention has been directed 

 to this moth, to find to what extent it has obtained a footing in 

 Britain. 



