10 



three weeks before the females are mature, and, after wandering 

 about on the limbs and trunk for a few days, come to rest and spin 

 slight cocoons in crevices of the bark where they transform to 

 winged adults. In about three weeks the perfect males emerge, mate 

 ■with the females, which have by this time become mature and are 

 crawling about over the trunk and larger limbs. The female from 

 this time on grows rapidly and after coming to rest secretes the waxy 

 threads and lays her eggs. According to Miss Smith's observations 

 there are three broods in a year. 



The larvae which hatch from the eggs of the third generation pass 

 the winter in the crevices of tlie bark of the trees and appear again 

 the next spring. After completing their growth they lay the eggs 

 for the next generation. 



Unless the insects are very numerous the damage is but slight. 

 They sometimes become so abundant, however, as to threaten the 

 health of the trees. During the summer of 1895, the writer saw 

 trees from which a portion of the leaves had fallen prematurely while 

 those remaining looked yellow, giving the tree a sickly appearance. 



KEMEDIES. 



A strong solution of whale-oil soap, applied either with a brush or 

 as a strong spray, in the late fall or early spring, will prove effectual 

 in killing the hibernating females and thus prevent another brood. 

 Before applying the above solution the loose bark should be scraped 

 from the trees. 



