80 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE 



Life History. One generation is produced each year. The 

 sexes mate soon after emergence and eggs are deposited on limbs 

 and twigs. The female deposits from 150 to 200 eggs in early 

 midsummer, the eggs encircling the smaller twigs (Fig. 102). 

 These eggs stand on end and are covered with a waterproof 

 coating secreted by the female. The caterpillars develop, but 

 remain within the egg until the following spring. Upon the arrival 

 of warm weather, they gnaw through the shells, often before the 

 leaves come out. In that event they feed upon the glutinous cover- 

 ing of the egg mass (Fig. 102). 



As stated above, the caterpillars live in silken nests or webs 

 and feed on foliage at regular intervals morning, afternoon, and 

 night. The older caterpillars wander away from the 

 nest and feed upon such plants as they find. They 

 pupate approximately six weeks from the time of 

 hatching, in any secluded place, under loose bark, in 

 grass, or brush, under trees, along fences, and on the 

 sides of sheds, houses and in other similar situations. 

 The pupal case or cocoon is composed of white or 

 yellowish-white webbing, and the pupal stage lasts 

 about ten days. 



Control. Remove all useless trees, such as wild 

 cherry and worthless apple trees, growing along road- 

 sides or fences. Destroy egg masses during dormant 

 FIG. 102. period of trees by pruning and burning the cuttings. 



Egg mass of ~ .,, , * ., . f 



American tent Caterpillars, when they first appear, may frequently 

 caterpillar. be kmed by crughmg ^ftfo the j^^ Later the nests 



may be burned. Arsenical sprays such as arsenate of lead are very 

 effective against these and all leaf -eating forms of insects. Use two 

 or three pounds of arsenate of lead in fifty gallons of water. This 

 poison, when used as a spray against the codling moth or combined 

 with a fungicide, easily keeps this pest in check. 



The Tentless Caterpillar or Forest Tent Caterpillar (Mala- 

 cosomadistriaJIlm.). This pest in the caterpillar stage somewhat 

 resembles the previously discussed insect, with which it might be 

 confounded. It does not, however, form a nest. The adult moth 

 is yellowish-brown, with a wing expanse of one and one-half inches. 

 It has two oblique, brown lines on the fore wings, enclosing a 

 darker space. 



The caterpillar is slightly smaller than the apple tent cater- 

 pillar. The general color is a pale blue, tinged with green on the 



