INSECT PESTS AND DISEASES. 163 



foi^ming a protection for themselves against their enemies, 

 while they proceed to devour the organs of the flower 

 inside. They are termed loopers from their mode of 

 walking, as they have only ten legs, and are yellowish 

 green, with a reddish line along the back, and the head 

 and legs black. When full fed they form an earthen 

 cocoon in the ground, from whence they emerge in the 

 perfect state during June arid July. The moth measures 

 something over inch in expanse, and the forewings are 

 dark green, with two more or less curved dark grey lines 

 running across them. The hind wings are less distinct in 

 their markings. The perfect insect may frequently be 

 found during the day resting on fences with its wings 

 spread out flat. 



REMEDIES. From the habit the larvae have of drawing 

 the petals together they are difficult to get at or to destroy 

 on an extensive scale. The most expedient method is to 

 go over the trees when they are in bloom, and collect all 

 blooms that exhibit tardiness in opening, or, from their 

 appearance, give the impression that something is wrong 

 with them. Drop them into a vessel containing some 

 insecticide, so that the contained larvse may not escape. 

 The perfect insects may also be destroyed when detected 

 at rest during the day. 



THE GOAT MOTH (Cossus ligniperda). The caterpillars 

 o this moth attain the enormous length of 3 inches or 

 4 inches, but take three years to attain their full size. 

 During all this time they feed in the trunks of trees, 

 forming long galleries, sufficiently wide to admit the 

 little finger. The caterpillars are chestnut-red above, 

 flesh-coloured beneath, with a black head, and emit a 

 fetid smell. The perfect moth measures over 3 inches 

 across the fore wings, which are greyish brown, clouded 



