DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



entire trees. The tent is at first a delicate silken web spun between the fork of 

 two branches, but soon becomes an unsightly mass, about 2 feet long, filled with cast 

 skins and excrement. On warm, sunny days the caterpillars feed outside the tent. 

 tr l- The control of these caterpillars is not difficult, and there is no reason 

 for allowing them to multiply unchecked in our orchards. The fruit-grower should 

 be on the look-out for the^gg-masses when he is pruning his tf ees, and destroy them. 

 The eggs are laid in masses of about 200 encircling the smailer twigs of the trees. 

 When the tents are evident in the wild brush in the vicinity of the orchard they 

 should be cut out and burned, or they may be burned out with a torch. Tents on 

 the fruit-trees can be conveniently collected with a wire brush fastened on the end 

 of a pole (a stove flue-brush would serve the purpose). Start early in the morning 

 or on a dull day when the caterpillars are inside the tents ; insert the brush through 

 a tent and revolve the brush so as to wind the tent containing the caterpillars on 

 the brush ; remove them from the brush and place them in a receptacle containing 

 water with a little coal-oil on top. Arsenical sprays are also effective if applied to 

 the foliage near the tents. Collecting is. however, the most economical methed. 



ANTIQUE OB RUSTY TUSSOCK-MOTH (Notolopltus antiqua). 



This caterpillar is principally a leaf-eater, but will occasionally eat large holes 

 into the fruit. Though not a serious pest, it has become fairly abundant in recent 

 years. Many fruit-growers no doubt have noticed the old female cocoons, covered 

 with masses of eggs, attached to the smaller twigs and leaves on their trees during 

 winter or early spring. 



'.'',!. Examine trees during winter or early spring when pruning, and destroy 

 all cocoons found with egg-masses on them. Do not remove cocoons which have no 

 egg-masses on them, as these are probably parasitized cocoons from which beneficial 

 insects would eventually emerge. 



If the caterpillars are present in injurious numbers during the spring, the trees 

 may be sprayed with arsenate of lead, 2 Ib. to 40 gallons of water. This spray 

 should be applied before the young caterpillars attain any appreciable size, for as 

 they grow they become more resistant to the poison. They can also be jarred from 

 small trees and prevented from returning by placing sticky bands round the trees. 

 Trees that are regularly sprayed with arsenicals are never greatly troubled with 

 them. 



If caterpillars are well-grown and it is found desirable to spray for them, 4 Ib. 

 of arsenate of lead to each 40 gallons of water will be necessary to be effective. 



THE YELLOW-XECKED APPLE-TREE CATERPILLAB (Datana miniztra). 



This is a leaf-eater, quite common in our apple-orchards. During August one 

 may frequently see the ends of apple-limbs defoliated for a foot or two. On a close 

 examination the group of caterpillars causing the injury can be easily recognized. 

 The caterpillar, when full-grown, is about 2 inches long, with a jet-black head, and 

 the first segment behind the head is a bright orange-yellow. Down the middle of 

 the back runs a black stripe, and on either side of the body are three black stripes 

 alternating with four yellow ones. The body is thinly coated with long soft white 

 hairs. The caterpillars are gregarious and feed in colonies ; if disturbed they will 

 at once assume a position characteristic of this genus, throwing the head and tail 

 into the air and remaining motionless in this position for some time. 



Control. Owing to the gregarious habits of these caterpillars they can be easily 

 removed from a limb and destroyed. Cutting off the part of the limb on which they 

 are noticed will remove the whole brood. Arsenate of lead. 3 Ib. to 40 gallons of 

 water, applied as soon as they are observed will destroy them, but gathering the 

 colonies by hand is the most economical method of control. 



THE RED-HUMPED APPLE-TREE CATERPILLAR t'.S'c/iicMro concinna*. 



This is another leaf-eating caterpillar much the same in habits and manner of 

 injury as the yellow-necked apple-tree caterpillar. There is only one brood each 



