LEAF-EATING INSECTS 



471 



ters ; of reddish color with yellow and white lines ; a short distance 

 back of the red head of the caterpillar is a red hump on which are 

 four black spines ; black spines are also scattered over the body, but 

 smaller than those on the back. Spray with lead arsenate or Paris 

 green, or cut off and burn colonies. 



Caterpillar of Tussock Moth. A conspicuous caterpillar with 

 four short, brush-like tufts on its back, and two long, black plumes 

 at the front, and one at the rear of the body. This leaf-eater is found 

 on apple, pear, plum and sometimes on other fruit trees, also on the 

 walnut and oak. The caterpillars are peculiarly resistant to arsenical 

 sprays and can not be successfully controlled by these. The larva 

 spins a cocoon sometimes in the fold of a leaf, more commonly in 

 crotches or rough places on the bark, or even on adjacent buildings 

 or fences, and the female, after emerging from the cocoon, deposits 

 her eggs upon the outside of it. The insect is fortunately very freely 

 parasitized in the egg form and prevented from wide injury. It can 

 be controlled by destroying the egg masses during pruning, as they 

 are white and very conspicuous. The worms may be jarred from the 

 trees and prevented from climbing up again as described for canker 

 worms. 



Pear and Cherry Slug. A small, slimy, dark-colored worm, with 

 the fore part of the body notably larger than the rear part, eating 

 the upper surface of the leaves but not usually making holes through 

 them. The insect can be checked by throwing fine road dust or air- 

 slacked lime over the tree, which cakes upon the slime of the worm 

 and destroys it. On a large scale an arsenate of lead spray may be 

 used or dust spraying with hydrated lime or nicodust is effective. 



Saw-Fly Worm. There are several larvae of saw-flies which 

 do much injury to pear trees, currants, etc., by eating the whole leaf 

 substance except the larger ribs. The worms are small, not slimy 

 like the pear slug, the one infesting the pear being about half an 

 inch when fully grown. Its general appearance and work are shown 

 by the engravings. The most available remedy is an arsenate of 

 lead spray just as the petals are opening. 



Large Caterpillars on Grape-vines. The grape-vine is often 

 seriously injured by the attacks of very large leaf-eating worms two 

 inches and upwards in length, sometimes with a large horn, or spine, 

 sometimes without. They are larvae of several species of Sphinx 

 moths or hawk-moths. The worms when new hatched can be killed 

 by an arsenical spray or by hand-picking. The number of worms 

 can be reduced by killing the large moths which are abundant at 

 nightfall on beds of verbenas, or other garden flowers. These worms 

 are related to the other large caterpillars which feed on tobacco, 

 tomatoes, etc. They can be killed by spraying or dusting with 

 lead arsenate and nicotine. 



Leaf Eating Beetles. There are many beetles, large and small, 

 which infest grape leaves. They can all be reduced by the use of 

 arsenate of lead, or those which drop to the ground when disturbed 

 may be collected in large numbers on sheets spread below. 



