The Bud Moth. 67 



OiK' ludod only occui-s in (iival I'.iitiiin. Tlit- niulli is very 

 coumuiu all over the Soulli (•!' Knj,'Uuul, but becomes lurer in the 

 North. 



Food Tlants. 



All Iriiii trees are atlacketl by this pest, but it is esiHicially 

 cheny and aj>ple that sulVer in this country. It also occui-s on the 

 sloe and plum, and has been recorded from the blackbeny. whilst in 

 North America it attacks the peach and (piince also. 



Natuiul Enemies. 



Five species of Ichneumon Hies prey upon ihe caterpillars of this 

 moth in Europe, but none have l)eeu noticed in Great Uritain. In 

 North America they also are preyed upon by three species of 

 Ichneumons. Amongst biixls we find the blue and gieat tits (Parus 

 carulcus and I\ major) picking the larvaj out of the buds and leaf 

 nests. The spanow also has been observed feeding upon them. A 

 laige sand-wasp, Odijncvus catskillcnsiSy stores its nests with these 

 cater})illai-s in North America. None ftf these natui'al enemies, 

 unless it l>e the I'aridie or Tils, tlo much gocnl in keeping down this 

 Bud Muih. 



Methods of riJEVEXTiNC. thk K.vva(je.s of Bli> Moth Laicv.k 



Now that we know that the larv;e feed upon tlie leafage in the 

 late summer we can to a large extent check the ravages of this pest 

 by arsenical sjn-aying. Larvje are always more easily destrcyetl 

 when young, and there is not the lea.st doubt that sj)r(ti/i»t/ in (he 

 autumn will kill them. There should also l>e a second washing in 

 the spring when the caterpillai-s are to some extent exjKised just 

 when the buds are bursting, and this followed by a third di"essing to 

 kill those that escajHj when they are in their leaf and blo.s.som nests. 

 lland-j>icking may be resorted to in gardens and nurseries and where 

 single low trees are invaded, the leaf nests l>eing easily seen and 

 picked olV by hand Ixifore the moths have emerged from the pujwil 

 stage. 



Washing with caustic alkali wa.sh iKk's nut seem l«i cheek this 

 pest, for trees so treated last winter (l'.»02) suUered severely fn>m 

 the Bud Moth and ahso Pith Moth. I'mbably the larval cases were 

 hidden under the bud-bracts and in such ploces that the wash does 

 not reach, the lanal cases also protecting the cateq»illai-3 within fnau 

 the burning action of the wash. 



F 2 



