320 PYRUS MALUS. 
destruction. He watched them from time to time, until many branches had been 
spoiled of their leaves, and in the autumn were entirely destitute of fruit ; while 
the three trees, which had been cleared of the eggs, were flush with foliage, each 
limb, without exception, ripening its fruit. In addition to a brief notice of the 
American lackey caterpillar, {Clisiocampa amoicana,) in our article on the Vir- 
ginian cherry-trees, under the head of "Insects," it may be proper here to state, 
that, where proper attention has not been paid to prevent its ravages, it prevails 
to such an extent as almost entirely to strip the apple orchards, as well as the 
cherry-tree of their foliage. This insect, from its abundance in all parts of the 
country, and being known almost exclusively in common language, by the name 
of the caterpillar, requires no further description. Various methods have been 
recommended to destroy this insect, such as burning and crushing the nests, 
early in the morning or evening while the vermin are at their repose, and the 
collection and destruction of their eggs in the winter or early part of spring. If 
a liberal bounty for the collection of the eggs were to be offered, as was suggested 
by the late Judge Lowell, and continued for the space of ten years, this destruc- 
tive caterpillar would be nearly exterminated at the end of that time. Another 
insect, which may be called the tent-caterpillar of the forest, (Clisiocampa sylvat- 
ica, Harris,) very much resembling the preceding in its habits, preys upon the 
leaves of the oak, the hickory, aud more rarely upon those of the apple-tree. Two 
other species of gregarious caterpillars, Notodonta co?icinna, and Pygcera minis- 
tra, of Harris, also swarm on the apple, cherry and plum-trees, towards the end 
of summer, stripping whole branches of their leaves. The caterpillar of the 
American lappet-moth, (Gastropacha americana, Harris,) appears in September, 
and makes the leaves of the apple its food, which it only eats in the night. A 
large green caterpillar, (Attacus cecropia, Harris,) also makes its appearance on 
the apple-tree in the months of July and August, as well as upon the currant, the 
berberry, the cherry, and the plum.* 
Among the insects which create the greatest havock in orchards, in Europe, 
are the larvae of the Tinea padella, of Linnaeus, which congregate in such vast 
numbers, that the leaves vanish before them, and by mid-summer, the trees arc 
often completely defoliated by them. 
Apples often fall off prematurely, both in Europe and in America, from being 
worm-eaten. The cause of this is a beautiful little insect, called the apple- worm 
moth, Tinea pomonella, of Linnaeus; Pyralis poniana, of Fabricius ; and Carpo- 
capsa pomonella, of modern entomologists. The habits and economy of this moth 
have been satisfactorily pointed out by a writer in the London "Entomological 
Magazine," and a good account of it is also given by Dr. Harris, in his " Report on 
the Insects of Massachusetts injurious to Vegetation," p. 353. The larvae of this 
insect leave their chrysalides from the middle of June to the first of July, or at the 
time the young apples become well set. The moth now lays her eggs in the eye 
of the apple, one only in each, by introducing its long ovipositor between the leaves 
of the calyx, which form a tent above it, that effectually shields it from the inclem- 
ency of the weather, or other casualties. " As soon as the egg hatches," says the 
writer above referred to, " the little grub gnaws a hole in the crown of the apple, and 
soon buries itself in its substance ; and it is worthy of remark, that the rind of the 
apple, as if to afford every facility to the destroyer, is thinner here than in any 
other part, and, consequently, more easily pierced. ***** The grub, controlled 
by an unvarying instinct, eats into the apple obliquely downwards, and, by thus 
avoiding the core and pips, in no way hinders its growth. At first, it makes but 
slow progress, being little bigger than a thread ; but, after a fortnight, its size and 
its operations have much increased. It has now eaten half-way down the apple ; 
and the position of the hole at the top, if the apple continue upright, or nearly so, 
* See Harris' Report, pp. 261, 269, 273, 279, 307, 312, 332, et 318. 
