135 



Tent Caterpillar (CUsiocainpa Aincricaiia). 



(Fig. 40.' 



<(7.), Side view; ih). V.ark view, full grown, at about six weeks okl ; (c). Cluster o£ 



eggs: (dj, Cocoon, oval of pale yellow colour. 



This iiest of the fruit-grower is widely distrihuted throughout the Province 

 .tnd IvUiiwri by all fruit-growers by tlieir habit of building welis or nests from 

 whieh they issue to feed. The eggs of these pests are deposited upon the 

 twigs of fruit and other trees in ring-lilce clusters or patches and covered with 

 .1 viscid liquid, which dries into a sort of varnish, by the parent moths; this 

 talces place during July and August. 



On the priuciiile th.-it an dunee of prevention is wnrth a pound of cure, 

 the easiest way of dealing with this pest, especially ou small trees, is to 

 destroy the egg masses, eitlier removing them for the purpose, or cutting off 

 the twigs on which they are found. Careful searching is required to do this. 

 l)Ut the work can be accomplished in the dormant seast>n, when there is not 

 so much press of work in other ways. If the caterpillars are allowed to hatch 

 out, they are easily detected by their conspicuous web or uest. In the early 

 and late portions of tlie day they will all be found in these nests, and can be 

 readily destroyed by crushing the nests and their contents with the gloved 

 hand, liy trampling under foot, or by using a torch to burn them out. Some- 

 times when a nest has been destroyed some of the caterpillars will be absent 

 feeding, and within a few days the nest will be repaii-ed and the renuuints of 

 the colony re-established, so that repeated visits should be made to the orchard 

 in order that all may be destroyed. Neglected trees are soon stripped of their 

 foliage and become e.xhausted by having to reproduce folia.ge at an unsea.sou- 

 itble time, so that little or no fruit will be produced the following season. 



