INSECTS. 



37 



The best method of destroying these insects is to search the 

 crchard carefully in the spring, before the buds are much swollen, 

 and cut off the belts of eggs on the twigs and bum them. These 

 bracelets will be found from one inch to twelve inches from the 

 end of the shoots, and a little practice will enable one to discern 

 them readily. It is best to search for them on a cloudy day, 

 thus avoiding the glare of a bright sim. As each belt contains- 

 some three hundred eggs, this is a rapid and convenient way of 

 destroying this pest. But, as some may escape notice, it will be 

 necessary to go through the orchard just as the young leaves 

 make their appearance, and search for the webs or tents in the 

 forks of the branches. These may be cut off and the worms 

 crushed under the foot, or with a light ladder ascend the tree and 

 destroy them with the hand, which may be covered with a stout 

 buckskin mitten. 



There is no need of our orchards being overrun with these 

 caterpillars, a little attention in the way already pointed out will 

 enable every one to keep them in subjection. He who suffers 

 from this cause may thank his own carelessness and indolence, 

 and deserves, in addition to losing his apple crop, to be compelled 

 to pay into the treasury of the municipality a handsome fine. 

 Fig. 23 represents one of the tents of the American Tent Cater- 

 pillar, with two of the larvae, a and h, on it, showing the side and 

 back view, and d represents the cocoon. Fig. 24 is the male 

 moth, and Fig. 25 the female moth, and 

 Fig. 26 the pupa which is found inside of 

 the cocoon. Fig. 27 shows the Forest 

 Tent Caterpillar, distinguished from the 

 other by the row of white spots on the 

 back instead of a whito line. 



These caterpillars 

 are found most abun- 

 dantly in our apple 

 orchards, but they feed 

 also upon the cherry, 

 and have been found fio- 25. Fig. 26, 



x\ w 



Fig. 24. 



