44 



The caterpillars, if present in numbers, may be 

 killed with arsenate of lead, or if in small numbers should 

 be hand-picked. 



The Buff-Tip Moth (Pygacra bucephala). 



In late summer and, on into the autumn Roses are 

 always liable to be attacked by the caterpillars of the 

 Buff-Tip Moth. They produce two quite different effects 

 on the foliage according to their age. The young eat 

 the epidermis only and feed in colonies close together. 

 Later they spread out over the bushes and devour the 

 leaves wholesale. A single caterpillar will do endless 

 damage on a Rose bush. The moth is very beautiful, 

 the fore wings are ashy and silvery grey with two in- 

 distinct transverse streaks and a large pale ochreous or 

 buff spot at the tip ; hind wings pale yellowish white. 

 Wing expanse 2j to 2} inches (Plate VI., Fig. 6). 



LIFE HISTORY AND HABITS. 



The moth appears in June and July. The eggs are 

 laid in batches, either on the upper or under side of the 

 leaves ; they are round, the upper part pearly white 

 with a medium dark spot, the lower green. They take 

 10 to 14 days to hatch and are laid in groups of from 20 

 to 50. The larvae are gregarious and reach two inches in 

 length when mature. The ground colour is dark yellow, 

 a broad black line runs down the back, and on each side 

 are three lines which are interrupted by yellow transverse 

 bands on the segments and there are fine hairs over the 

 body. They mostly mature by September and reach 2-| 

 to 3 inches in length and when full fed fall to the ground 

 and pupate in the soil. The pupa is dark brown, about an 

 inch in length, with two spines at the apex. They remain 

 under the trees until the next summer (Plate VI., Figs. 

 7 &8). 



