Appendix Entomology of the Rose. 363 



also sallying forth to prey upon others close at hand. It has also a partiality for the flower 

 buds, and will often spin a web encircling a cluster of them, and eating the stalk detach the 

 bud from it. It is active in its movements, and when disturbed will fall from the food plant 

 on to the ground, but as far as we have observed always without spinning any thread by 

 which it can reascend. Unlike most other species which unite several leaves to form a pro- 

 tection for their cocoons, this insect just rolls over the edge of the leaf and so makes a close 

 fitting case for its cocoon ; the latter is white, enclosing a black chrysalis. The moth is on the 

 wing dviring the latter end of June and throughout July. It is a common and destructive 

 species. 



The next insect we have to refer to belongs also to the family of Bell Moths, and is called 

 Spilonotaaquana. It is an excessively common and destructive species, and although it does not 

 appear to be exclusively confined to the Rose it is nevertheless one of the most insatiable de- 

 vourers of that plant which exists. Fortunate indeed is the grower who can claim for his plants 

 exemption from its ravages ; both out of doors and under glass it seems to be ubiquitous, eating 

 its way in the hearts of the youngest shoots, and in sheltered and favourable situations we 

 have seen it swarm to such a degree that it was with difficulty that a bud could be found 

 without a tenant. The damage caused to the plants by its depredations is very considerable, 

 and such of the infected buds as may be fortunate enough to reach maturity present a mangled 

 and unhealthy appearance. The moth which is represented at Fig. 78 has 

 the upper wings of an ashy white colour, clouded in places with lead and 

 slate colour. Different specimens vary greatly in regard to the predomin- 

 Fig. 7 8. ance of the white, but this insect may always be known by the presence 



of a dark brown patch on each (upper) wing at their juncture with the body. The under wings 

 are pale smoke colour, with a pale fringe. The expanse of the upper wings fully extended is 

 on the average three-quarters of an inch from tip to tip. The caterpillar, which may be 

 considered par excellence the bete noire of out-door Roses, is of a fleshy brown colour, very 

 maggoty in appearance. Its skin appears rough, as if covered with a number of small warts. 

 The body is somewhat stouter in the centre than at the extremities, and a few small whitish 

 hairs may be observed upon it ; the head is black, and there is a black plate on the segment of 

 the body following the head. We have already referred to its manner of attacking the plants ; 

 although it seems to spin the leaves which form its dwelling very closely together, and is 

 therefore not easily disturbed, nevertheless it appears to have no special method or design in its 

 workmanship, and notwithstanding its preference for the young shoots it will attack all the 

 leaves, and is often to be discovered lurking in the retreat naturally formed at the juncture of 

 the leaf with the stalk. We have also caught specimens living and feeding in the interior of 

 the young flower buds, and even eating the petal of the full blown flower. It is sluggish in its 

 movements, but when shaken out of its home lets itself fall by a silken thread which it spins 

 from the mouth. The chrysalis, which is pale brown in colour, is contained in a cocoon spun 

 amongst the leaves of the food plants. The caterpillar is most plentiful at the end of April and 

 beginning of May; the moth throughout June. Hand-picking would appear to be the most 

 effective method of reducing the number of these caterpillars. Great watchfulness is requisite, 

 or one may get established in a young bud, and the embryo flower be devoured before the 

 mischief is discovered. 



It is not at all unusual to observe at the end of summer many of the leaves on Rose trees 

 disfigured by certain pale tortuous tracks eaten in the leaf ; sometimes these pursue a zigzag 

 course down the centre, at others they make the entire circuit of the leaf. Although perhaps 

 not injurious to an appreciable degree these tracks cannot be looked upon as ornamental 

 or the causer of them as a friend. By placing one of the leaves under a microscope we shall 

 find it tenanted by a small 01 ange-yellcw caterpillar destitute of legs. When full fed it makes 



