Insects Injurious to the Cherry. 



195 



THE CHERRY TREE CASE-BEARER. 



(Colcophora anatipennella . Hb.) 



This insect is one easily told by the curious case formed by the 

 caterpillar resembling roughly a pistol, and hence it has been called 

 the Pistol Case-Bearer. The first inquiry I had concerning it was 

 in 1893, when a number of the larval cases were sent me from 

 Sellindge with a note regarding the great damage they had been 

 doing to cherry foliage during that year (1). In 1897 a similar 

 attack was noticed at Wye (1), the foliage being denuded by these 

 insects. Inquiries have also been received from Sussex, Surrey 

 and Somersetshire. 



The damage done by these insects is chiefly in spring-time, 

 when they come from their winter rest and commence devouring 

 the buds as they open. As the 

 leaves open out they crawl with 

 their cases over the foliage and 

 devour the upper epidermis and the 

 mesophyll, leaving a pale patch of 

 the lower skin, much as is done 

 by the Slugworm. 



Lintner (2) refers to an allied 

 species, C. malivorclla, Eiley, doing 

 damage in America. \r. f- 



FIG. 151. LARVAL CASK ON LEAF AND 



DETACHED, ALSO MOTH OF THE PISTOL 



CASE-BEARER. 



LlFE-HlSTORY, ETC. 



The adult moth may be found 

 on the wing from July to August, 

 and occurs from Newcastle to the 

 most southern part of England. 

 The wings are creamy-white, with numerous scattered fuscous scales, 

 which are especially noticeable towards the tips of the wings ; the 

 fringes are white ; the hind wings are dusky, with long fringes of 

 dusky grey, paler than the wings. The moths are found flying about 

 hedgerows towards evening. In length they reach about inch 

 from wing-tip to wing-tip. 



The female lays her eggs on the underside of the leaves. 

 Besides the cherry they lay them also on the apple and the sloe, 

 but it seems to be always the cherry that they attack in numbers. 



The ova appear to hatch in two or three weeks. In a few days 



