544 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRAdTICAL HORTICULTURE 



Fis 



2. Western Tussock Moth : Larva feed- 

 ing on Apple Foliage. (Original, i 



segment is a series of four or five orange 

 yellow dots, extended to the sides: third 

 and anterior part of fourth more broadly 

 and distinctly patched with orange. From 

 the dorsum of fifth, sixth, seventh and 

 eighth spring bundles of long silky hairs, 

 whitish drab at their base, chestnut to- 

 wards their tips. Along the lateral re- 

 gion is a double row of bright red tu- 

 bercles, and on the third, fourth, tenth, 

 eleventh and twelfth, these extend across 

 the body, six tubercles appearing on each 

 segment. Out of these spring a series of 

 long yellowish white hairs, sparsely in- 

 terspersed with black, and becoming more 

 decidedly yellow laterally. From the cen- 

 ter of twelfth segment a bundle of long 

 yellow hairs, tufted with black; under 

 side blackish; feet and pro-legs orange 

 yellow, with the claws black. Length one 

 inch." 

 When mature the larvae usually seek 



some protected place for forming their 

 cocoons and in such a place collect in 

 large numbers if very abundant. Occa- 

 sionally they will gather bunches of leaves 

 at the tip of twigs and form their co- 

 coons under these; this takes place in 

 early June. About the last of June the 

 females and males emerge, copulate; and 

 the females being unable to fly, remain 

 hanging to the old cocoons. The males 

 fiy both at night and during the day: 

 they live but a short time after copula- 

 tion. 



It has been stated that the males are 

 attracted to the females by their odor 

 and that they will go long distances to 

 find them. As the eggs are deposited the 

 females secrete a cement-like substance 

 which surrounds the eggs and forms an 

 excellent protection against climatic con- 

 ditions and enemies. This also fastens 

 them very securel}- to whatever they are 

 laid upon. As the eggs pass from the 

 body the abdomen contracts until the fe- 

 male Is but head and legs with but a 

 semblance of an abdomen. The egg 

 masses are grayish brown in color, nearly 

 spherical and measure about one-fourth 

 inch in diameter. There is but a single 

 brood each season and the eggs remain 

 over until from early summer to early 

 spring. There is little danger that this 

 insect will ever become a very serious 

 pest but it is at all times annoying and 

 may at times need special treatment. 

 Remedies 



Our most common spray of arsenate of 

 lead, 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water, is 



Fig. 3. Wliite Mariied Tussock Moth. An 

 Eastern relative of the Western species. 



Fig. 4. Dead Caterpillar of the California Tus- 

 sock Moth Moved to Show the Pupa Cases 

 of Internal I'arasltes. Which After Killing 

 it Pupated Indeineath the Dead Body. 



(Essig) 



