28 



Insect Pests. 



In spring they come forth as soon as the buds swell, and com- 

 mence to feed on the young leaves. Some sent from Evesham came 



[h\ Kdeiulen. 

 FIG. 13.— THE GOLD TAIL JIoTH {Porthesia similis). 

 A and B, female and male ; C, summer cocoon ; D, small winter cocoon ; 

 E, larva. 



out of their small cocoons on the IStli of March. They continued 

 feeding until July, Init many matured in the latter part of June. 



The larva is deep brownisli-hlack, with a bright red dorsal stripe, 

 a red line on each side spotted with M-hite, and another above the 

 legs. The segments have tufts of brown hairs. 



[A. V. I). lUntiniL 

 FIG. 14.— YOUNG GOLD TAIL LARV.t; ON PLUM LEAF. 



When mature it spins up in a grey cocoon with larval hairs 

 in its meshes, and changes to a deep brown ])upa ; these are usually 



