47 



they become dark, then reddish and have a sculptured 

 shell. These eggs remain on the Roses all the winter, 

 and in late March and April they hatch into small cater- 

 pillars, so small we can scarcely detect them. At first 

 they are greyish, then they became green with pale 

 stripes. Their mode of progression is very characteristic, 

 being always in a series of loops. Unlike most cater- 

 pillars these Winter Moth larvae have only one pair 

 of prolegs or sucker feet, whilst those of the Dagger 

 Moth, Gold Tail and Tortrix have four pairs. This 

 character is common to all " Looper larvae." (Vide 

 Plate VI., Fig. n). 



They at first spin the Rose leaves together and later 

 eat into the blossom buds. When full grown, sometime 

 in June, they attain an inch to a little more in length. 

 On reaching maturity they fall to the Aground, burrow 

 under it and pupate. The pupal stage is passed in the 

 soil in a case (cocoon) covered with earth outside and 

 in these they remain until the next autumn. 



PREVENTION AND TREATMENT. 



The method of preventing this pest in fruit planta- 

 tions is to tie a piece of grease-proof paper around the 

 tree, smear it with grease by the first week in October 

 and so catch the females as they ascend to lay their 

 eggs. One would scarcely think of doing this to one's 

 standard Roses. Yet it might be worth while if the 

 grower suffers from this pest. But we get them on all 

 Roses, and it is better to spray early in the season with 

 the arsenate of lead wash, for many other leaf-eating 

 caterpillars will also be destroyed (not all, unless done 

 three times in the year with Roses). 



