208 PROTECTION OF WOODLANDS. 



first five rings, and red on the other six, and from which clusters 

 of long dark hairs issue. 



The time of swarming is about the end of July and the earlier 

 part of August, when the male moths are much more active than 

 the females. During August and September the latter deposits 

 her ova to a total of 300 to 400 in shallow round clusters on the 

 bark of smooth stems or other convenient objects mostly near the 

 ground, and then by dusting off the brownish-grey wool-like hairy 

 down from her extremity, gives them a protective covering re- 

 sembling a bit of thin fungus or sponge. 



The caterpillars appear during the following April or May, but 

 remain together for about ten days in clusters or colonies, before 

 they ascend the stems to commence feeding on the foliage. 



About the beginning of July they enter the pupal state of rest, 

 fastening themselves loosely by a few threads between leaves or 

 in the fissures of the bark ; about fourteen days later the imagines 

 make their appearance, to repeat the simple annual generation. 



This is an extremely voracious and injurious insect in orchards, 

 but occasionally it also causes total defoliation of woodland trees, 

 chiefly of Oak, Hornbeam, Poplar, Willows, Lime, and Alder. 

 Sometimes, if impelled by hunger, it has likewise been known to 

 attack conifers, when it prefers the Scots Pine to the Spruce. 



Of these three species of insects, the Gipsy-moth is of most 

 importance sylviculturally, for, though it is principally to be found 

 feeding on fruit-trees in orchards, it is in reality polyphagus on. 

 nearly all broad-leaved species ; but among forest trees Oaks are 

 on the whole most liable to its attacks in all forms of crops, from 

 coppice-woods to high timber forest. It may be said almost to 

 occur periodically in large numbers, sometimes defoliating trees 

 over extensive areas, and at least leading to a considerable 

 temporary loss of increment on the stems denuded or badly 

 injured. 



The exterminative remedy most recommended is the destruction 

 of the easily noticeable clusters of eggs, and Altum suggests that 

 this can best be effected by daubing them over with patent tar. 1 



1 In the case of the Gipsy-moth, ringing the trees with patent tar would seem the 

 most practical way, considering that the ova are usually deposited near the soil. 

 Trans. 



