344 PROTECTION AGAINST INSECTS. 



b. Life-history, etc. 



The eggs are laid at the end of June and in July on buds, 

 usually of underwood. The larvae do not hatch till the spring, 

 when they attack buds, leaves and blossoms under the protec- 

 tion of a conspicuous gauzy web, which they spin in common 

 over the ends of the branches. 



The chief food-plants are the plum and apple trees, the 

 mountain-ash and especially the hawthorn. This caterpillar 

 has also committed great ravages among willows in Hungary. 

 It is very common in the British Isles, and often completely 

 defoliates hawthorn trees and hedge-rows in the open spaces 

 of London. Pupation takes place on the branches or trunk in 

 June or July in a white cocoon. 



c. Remedial Measures. 



Cutting-off and destruction of the caterpillar-webs at the 

 beginning of June. Destruction of the moths (July), which 

 often sit in conspicuous groups at a moderate height on the 

 trunks. 



Where defoliation is an eyesore, as in public parks, the trees 

 may be carefully sprayed with a weak arsenical mixture or 

 syringed with a stronger jet of plain water or soap-mixture. 



Other species of Tinea e.g. T. padi, Zell., on the gean 

 (Prunus padus, L.) and on Rhamnus Frangula, L. are closely 

 allied in appearance and habits. 



2. Tinea curtisella, Don. (Ash-tiviy Moth). 



a. Description. 



Moth with a wing-expanse of 16 mm. ; fore-wings, head and 



thorax white ; the former 

 with a large triangular dark- 

 grey blotch on the anterior 

 margin and with the base 

 and outer margin clouded 

 with blackish marks; hind- 

 wings and abdomen grey- 

 Fig. 176. Tinea curtisella, Don. brown, the latter lighter be- 

 neath ; fringes grey-brown. 

 Caterpillar 1 to 10 mm. long, with 16 legs, bright 



