PALE TUSSOCK MOTH. 211 



on the fourth segment, and a long forked tail. Pupa enclosed in a hard 

 shell-like cocoon spun along the stem or on twigs, &c. 



* The Hop-Dog or Pale Tussock moth, DasycJiira pudibunda, is found 

 on most broad-leaved trees, but mainly attacks old Beech-woods on poor 

 soil (also destructive in hop-gardens, hence " hop-dog "), and usually only 

 migrates to younger woods after the old woods have been defoliated. The 

 caterpillars feed mostly in late summer, after the young buds for next 

 year's foliage are formed ; and though generation is simple and annual, 

 attacks seldom extend beyond two consecutive years. 



The wing-span of the ? 2 to 2^ in. , the 6 somewhat smaller and dis- 

 tinguished by yellowish -brown feathery antenna) ; fore-wings and front 

 part of body reddish- or greyish- white, with two or three dark, waved, 

 transverse stripes ; hind-wings and lower part lighter, with a faint, broad, 

 greyish, transverse band. Caterpillar 16-legged, about 1^ in. long when 

 full grown ; at first greenish -yellow, then brown-red, and easily known by 

 4 thick, yellow- or brown-grey tufts of bristles on segments 4, 5, 6, and 7, 

 with velvety black bands between, and by a long rose-red or ruddy-brown 

 hair- tuft on the second last segment. 



Pupa hairy, dark-brown to greyish -yellow, in a cocoon spun with the 

 larval hairs. Moths fly late in May and early in June, and the $ lays 

 about 100 eggs (at first grey-green, brown- or blue-grey) on the smooth 

 bark of poles or trees, usually from 3 to 10 feet above ground. About 

 three weeks later, in June or July, the young caterpillars hatch out, eat 

 their egg-shells, and cluster in colonies for a few days before scattering 

 and ascending to feed on the foliage. They only gnaw leaves slightly at 

 first, but with growing strength often gnaw them completely through near 

 the petiole, so that the ground is frequently strewn with bits of foliage. 

 At end of September or early in October they descend and hibernate as 

 pupse in cocoons spun in moss or under dead leaves, herbage, &c. Pre- 

 vention and Extermination. Insectivorous birds and predatory and par- 

 asitic insects (Carabidce and Ichneumonidw chiefly) prey on the caterpillars ; 

 but the sudden cessation of attacks is mainly due to a fungus disease 

 (Isaria farinosa) infecting the caterpillars, which are also very sensitive 

 to sudden cold wet weather, although hardy as regards winter cold. It 

 is not of much practical use to try and collect the pupae or kill the cater- 

 pillars when descending to pupate on the ground, though egg-clusters laid 

 on Beech-stems near the ground can easily be crushed or destroyed with a 

 daub of tar. Grease-banding stems about 12 feet up with narrow rings of 

 patent tar will prevent most of the caterpillars from getting up to the 

 crown to eat the foliage, and will also hinder those hatched out of eggs 

 laid above that from being able to descend to pupate on the ground. 



The Brown-tail moth, Porthesia chrysorrhcea, is a shining white moth 

 with a wing-span of 1 in. In the ? the abdomen is mostly brown, with 



