Insects Injurious to the Apple. 



39 



The female is quite wingless, but the moth belongs to quite a 

 distinct family from the Geometric^ or Loopers. Beaumur (1) gave 

 an excellent description of this insect. It is widespread over Europe. 



[F. Edenden. 

 FIG. 26. THE VAPOURER MOTH (Orygia antiqua. Linn.). 



A, female ; B, male ; C, empty pupa skin ; D, cocoon ; E, larval skin. 



Taschenberg (2) refers to its damage in Germany. Ormerod (3) 

 mentions that its attack is known in orchard-houses as well as out of 

 doors. The caterpillars devour the foliage, and being very ravenous, 

 if present in large numbers, do a very great amount of harm. 



LlFE-HlSTORY AND HABITS. 



The male (Fig. 26 B) has four ample wings, which expand from 

 1 inch to 1 inch; the colour is rich chestnut-brown with a 

 white spot on each fore wing, on the inner 

 border ; there are also darker transverse 

 lines across the fore wings, and the antennce 

 are plumose. The female (Fig. 26 A) is grey, 

 paler below, very plump, and practically 

 wingless, the organs of flight being reduced, 

 like the Winter Moth, to mere blunt pro- 

 cesses. The adults occur from early July 

 to the end of September ; the majority in 

 August in the south of England. The 

 male flies by day, especially on bright 

 sunny days, and with a rapid flight. The 

 female is sedentary, remaining on the cocoon from which she emerged. 

 After being fertilised by the male she lays her eggs in a close single- 

 layered mass on the outside of the cocoon and dies. These ova (shown 



[F. E. 

 FIG. 27. 

 OVA OF VAPOURER MOTH. 



(Natural size.) 



