CHAPTER VII. 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CONIFERS. 



Coniferous trees have some insects peculiar to themselves, 

 and they are also preyed upon by those that are found as 

 well upon a number of deciduous trees. "We shall briefly 

 describe the most troublesome of these, and give some 

 hints towards ridding our collections of these destructive 

 pests. 



The Drop-worm, or Basket- worm, (Oiketicus conifer- 

 arum, of Harris; or Thyridopterix 

 ephemcereformis. The larva of this in- 

 sect surrounds itself by a case,or "basket," 

 constructed of the leaves of the trees on 

 which it feeds. These cases are very 

 tough, and likewise difficult to displace 

 from the twig to which they are at- 

 tached. Fig. 8 shows the case, and Fig. 9 

 the larva removed from it. When feed- 

 ing, the worm fastens its curious little 

 house to a twig by means of a few silken 

 threads, which are removed and re fasten- 

 ed at pleasiire. They will also drop 

 from one limb to another by means of these threads, and 

 commence their work of destruction in a fresh place. 



This terrible little pest, now be- 

 coming so well known in this 

 country, was only discovered here 

 a comparatively few years ago, and 

 the above name was given it by Prof. 

 Harris. Although his description would lead one to infer 

 58 



Fig. 8. 



Fi- '.'. 



