PROCEEDINGS, 1915. 95 



conceal themselves in small crevices, behind old boards, etc., during the 

 winter. 



Life History. The eggs are deposited singly on the leaves and stems 

 of the plant during the second and third weeks of June. They hatch in a 

 few days and the young caterpillar immediately eats its way through the 

 s heath which covers the seed head of the plant. When it reaches the 

 v oung flower bud inside, it commences to feed and tie the flowers togeth- 

 r with silken threads, so that when the head breaks open, instead of 

 preading out, it is a mass of web with caterpillars inside. 



The larva feeds for about four weeks, completely destroying the 

 seed of the plant and often eating all the leaves. About the middle of 

 July the nearly mature larva crawls down the stem of the plant, until it 

 reaches the axil of a leaf, when it commences to eat its way through into 

 the hollow stem, where it feeds for a few days before reaching maturity. 

 When mature the larva spins a small silken cocoon in the stem and en- 

 ters the pupal state, which lasts for about two to three weeks, the adults 

 emerging about the second or third week in August. 



It passes the winter as an adult behind old boards or rough bark of 

 trees or in old buildings and in the spring it leaves its winter quarters to 

 deposit its eggs to start a new generation. 



Control No satisfactory method of control has yet been worked 

 out. Spraying with arsenate of lead, 4 lbs. to 40 gallons of water, with 

 flour paste as a sticker, just as the eggs are hatching, does not appear to 

 have any effect. Dusting with Paris green, 1 part to 25 parts air-slacked 

 lime, when the umbels are open will prevent them from damaging any 

 new'seed, but will not affect the caterpillars in that part of the umbel 

 which is already tied up with silk. The only way to check it, until some 

 better method is worked out, is to cut off all affected heads and destroy 

 them. 



These few observations were taken in the immediate locality. Just 

 how far this pest is distributed through the province I cannot say. I have 

 only had the opportunity of seeing it in one other place, namely, Gaspereau 

 on some cultivated parsnips which were practically all destroyed, but I 

 have no doubt that it is quite widely distributed throughout the province. 



