PINE SPAN-WORM. 



215 



(like leaf-roller moths). Early in June they spin gossamer threads down 

 to the ground, and pupate in sheltered places or in smooth holes formed 

 about 2J in. below the ground. The moths mostly emerge in autumn 

 (simple annual genei-ation), though stragglers hibernate as pupae and 

 appear in spring. Extermination consists in spraying with insecticides in 

 nurseries, and grease- 

 banding stems with Fig. CT. 

 patent tar to prevent 

 the ? from crawling 

 up to the tree-crowns. 



* The Pine Span- 

 worm or Bordered 

 White moth, Fidonia 

 piniaria, usually at- 

 tacks 25- to 40 -year- 

 old Pine, Spruce, and 

 Silver Fir woods, and 

 would be very destruc- 

 tive were it not that 

 its attacks only take 

 place after the buds for 

 next year's foliage have 

 been formed (Fig. 51). 



The (J and 9 are 

 about same size, wing- 

 span 1 to 1^ in., but 

 vary in colour. The 9 

 has rusty-brown wings 

 (both pairs), with 

 paler edging, 2 faint 

 dark-brown transverse 

 stripes across lower, 

 and 1 across the upper 

 wings, and the lower 

 edges of both wing- 

 pairs have a row of 



alternate light and dark spots. Ground-colour of wings of <$ white 

 (Scotland) or yellowish - white (England), with large triangular dark- 

 brown patch at apex of fore-wings, and broad dark-brown edging and 

 transverse stripes, and fringes of both wing-pairs tipped with alternate 

 brown and yellow spots. 



The yellowish-green 10-footed caterpillar, 1 or 1 in. when full-grown, 

 has a white line along the middle of back, two parallel dark -green line? 



Part of Pine branch, showing damage done by cater- 

 pillars of the Pine Span-worm. Eggs can be seen 

 here and there on the leaves. 



