26 Insect Pests. 



BROWX TAIL CATEKPILLAE EASH. 



The hairs of the Brown Tail caterpillar are very finely barbed 

 and also brittle. If one touches a caterpillar these hairs stick in 

 the skin and break off, and cause very severe irritation in the 

 form of a distinct rash. 



Moreover, when the insect occurs in large numbers, much 

 inconvenience is caused by the hairs, broken off at moulting time 

 or when the cocoons are being formed, blowing about in the air. 

 They then not only settle on the face but get into the mouth, eyes, 

 etc., and cause very great annoyance and some danger to the afflicted 

 person. The worst urticating hairs are those short brown ones from 

 the tubercles on the back and sides. 



Howard (5) describes very bad symptoms resulting from these 

 hairs in America. 



The best remedy to apply when one has been covered with 

 these hairs is the following: Carbolic acid ^ drachm, zinc oxide 

 ^ oz., lime water 8 oz. 



PREVENTION AND REMEDIES. 



The winter tents (Figs. 7 and 8) should be sought for and burnt ; 

 as they are easily seen this is not a difficult task. Any " tents " that 

 show in early summer should also be destroyed either during a 

 wet day or towards evening. It is advisable to hold a sheet under 

 the tents when being cut off in the summer, in case any of the 

 caterpillars fall. 



Should these caterpillars appear unawares in a plantation the 

 whole should be sprayed with arsenate of lead. 



REFERENCES. 



(1) Stainton, H. T. Manual of British Butterflies and Moths,' I., p. 134 



(1857). 



(2) Kollar, Vincent. 'A Treatise on Insects, etc.' Eng. Trans., p. 190 (1840). 



(3) Curtis, John. ' History of the Brown Tail Moth ' (1782). 



(4) Theobald, F. V. Tent Caterpillars, Board of Agriculture Journal, Sept. 



(1901). 



(5) Howard, L. O. The Brown Tail Moth, and how to Control it. Fanners' 



Bulletin, No. 264. U.S. Dept. Agri. (1906). 



(6) Theobald, F. V. Report on Economic Zoology for year ending April 1st, 



1907, p. 25 (1907). 



