47 



(2) All fallen fruit should be picked up and disposed of 

 .in such a way as to kill any larvse inside. Attacked apples 

 should be separated from the others when they are picked 

 and if unfit for cooking should be given to the pigs or other- 

 wise dealt with so as to destroy any larvae which they may 

 .contain. 



(M) All rubbish near the trees should be cleared away and 

 burnt. Without spraying it is often possible to clean the 

 trt-fs somewhat by pruning out all dead wood and scraping 

 off loose bark and moss. 



THE SMALL ERMINE MOTHS. 



(Genus Hyponomeuta.) 



The name " Small Ermine Moths " is given to a group of 

 little moths which are often of considerable importance to 

 the fruit grower. They are present in almost every orchard 

 or garden throughout the country, and where no steps are 

 taken to keep their numbers in check they are capable of 

 doing very serious damage. Outside the British Isles Small 

 Ermines are known as pests in practically every European 

 country and also in Japan. Recently one of the more harmful 

 species has been introduced into the United States of America, 

 where efforts are being made to stamp it out. 



Technical Note. There are several species of Small Ermine 

 .Moth in the British Isles, but this leaflet is chiefly concerned 

 with one or more, which for the present may be dealt with 

 under the name Hyponomeuta padella L. and will include 

 forms often referred to in literature as H. malinella Z. and 

 H. ra-riabilis Z. It is doubtful whether the true H. malinella 

 has proved injurious in this country, though it is said to occur 

 on crab apple. A further species, H. evonymella (cogr.atelhi 

 Hb.), may also receive brief mention as it is sometimes most 

 injurious to spindle (Euonynms) hedges. 



Plants attacked and Nature of Injury. The Small 

 Ermine (H. padella) is most harmful to apple trees and haw- 

 thorn hedges, but it also attacks pear, plum, cherry, mountain 

 ash and other allied plants. The injury consists in the 

 destruction of the leaves by the Ermine caterpillars, which in 

 a bad attack completely defoliate the tree, leaving only bare 

 twigs and a few shrivellel brown leaves spun together by a 

 dense web of silk. As a result, apples usually fall from the. 

 -trees when still young, and, although new leaves are produced 

 -before the end of the season, the trees are seriously weakened 

 and the chances of obtaining a crop the following year are 

 much reduced. The injury to hawthorn hedges (and also to 

 Euonymus hedges by H. evonymella) is similar, and while 

 "there is no loss of fruit, the leafless hedges in summer are 

 Tery unsightly; if the attack occurs for two or more years 



