32 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1905. 



Spraying with Paris green (Blundell *j), I oz. to 10 gallons of 

 water, is the only remedy I have tried, and it has invariably proved 

 successful. 



In the Midland Counties this moth is rapidly increasing in 

 numbers. 



THE COMMON PUG. 



Eupithecia vulgata, Haw. 



A Worcester correspondent forwarded the larvae of this moth 

 from hops, on which it was unusually plentiful and doing serious 

 damage. I have not previously heard of it being an enemy of 

 hops, and it is to be hoped that this is an exceptional case. 



Specimens of the plant were obtained with the eggs on, and 

 these were hatched out and the moths bred out. 



My correspondent informed me that the Blue Tit (Parus 

 caeruleus] fed largely upon them ; indeed, he thought that, had it 

 not been for these birds, the damage would have been much more 

 serious. 



THE FIGURE OF 8 MOTH. 



Dtloba caeruleocephala, Linn. 



In many parts of Worcestershire and Warwickshire the larvae 

 of this well-known moth have proved very troublesome on apple 

 and plum trees. Fortunately, it is a species which is not difficult 

 to get rid of. A heavy fall of rain will wash great numbers off 

 the trees, or simply shaking the trees will cause large numbers 

 to fall to the ground. An appreciable difference can be made in 

 their numbers in an afternoon by this means, and especially so if a 

 few fowls are allowed the run of the orchard during the shaking. 



The cocoons are often attached to the branches of the trees, 

 so that any measures which favour keeping the bark clean are 

 serviceable. In the case of bad attacks, spraying with Paris green 

 is perhaps the best method of clearing them off the trees. 



THE BURDOCK MOTH, 



Gortyna flavago, W. V. 



A correspondent forwarded in May examples of the larvae of 

 this moth damaging tomatoes. Whilst common on the Burdock 

 (Arctium lappd], Agrimony, Dock, Ragwort, Yellow Flag, Water 

 Betony, various thistles, and I believe it has been recorded attacking 

 potatoes, it has only once been recorded as damaging tomatoes.* 

 It is a common species, however, and tomato-growers should keep 

 a watchful eye for what at any time might become a serious pest. 



In the case examined the larvae had not only tunnelled into 

 the stem, but into the fruit also. 



* TheobaM, Journ. S.K. Agrie. Coll., 1900, p. .,2. 



