294 



PESTS OF ORCHARD AND SMALL FRUITS 



ize leaves near by, giving the foliage a brown appearance. After a 

 few weeks they make their winter nest and retire to it, remaining 

 therein until the following spring. 



In addition to the damage done by the caterpillars there is an annoy- 

 ing and sometimes serious poisoning of human beings by barbed hairs 

 borne by the caterpillars. These hairs often are carried by the wind. 



Fig. 435. 



Egg-masses and adult female of the Browntail Moth. 

 Original. 



The ordinary means of control is the removal and burning of the 

 winter nests. On fruit trees it is a better plan to spray with arsenical 

 poisons the first week in August, at the time when the caterpillars are 

 just hatching from the egg. They are not resistant to poison when 

 small, and a moderate dose will kill them. Spraying in the spring is 

 not satisfactory. 



