INSECT PESTS 145 



Thrips. A minute pest which does much damage to the 

 leaves of fruit trees, more particularly those under glass or on a 

 hot wall. The affected parts have a rusty, withered appearance. 

 Spraying or syringeing frequently with water tends to prevent 

 attacks, while Abol insecticide, paraffin emulsion, quassia solution 

 or nicotine solution are useful remedies. 



Winter Moth. The larvae of the winter moth do a great 

 deal of damage in gardens generally by feeding on the buds and 

 young shoots. The moth lays her eggs on the trees during winter, 

 and in spring the larvae hatch out and attack the fresh growths. 

 When fully grown, the caterpillars lower themselves to the ground 

 by means of threads and pupate in the soil. As the females are 

 unable to fly, they may be caught when ascending the trees in 

 autumn and winter, by means of greasebands placed round the 

 stems about two feet from the ground level. The simplest way 

 of preparing these is to obtain grease-proof paper, which is tied 

 round the trunk of the tree, and is then well smeared with cart- 

 grease, which must be renewed occasionally during winter. The 

 bands ought to be examined sometimes and the insects destroyed. 

 The bands must be tied top and bottom, otherwise the moths 

 will crawl beneath them. A patent preparation known as Tangle- 

 foot is an excellent substitute for cart-grease. 



This compound, weight for weight, is much dearer than grease, 

 but it is far more efficient ; it does not require working up and 

 renewing two or three times during autumn and winter, and except 

 for very young trees is quite innocuous, and therefore does not 

 require paper bands. Moreover, it can be applied in lesser 

 quantity than grease. A 2-inch band applied as thinly as it can 

 be put on will be found to stop the moths from getting above 

 into the branches. The importance of having these bands kept 

 in a sticky condition for some time after they are placed in position 

 will be realised when it is known that the moths are coming out 

 of the ground and ascending the stems of the trees from October 

 until mid-winter. The bands should be from 18 inches to 3 feet 

 from the surface soil. 



