40 



Insect Pests. 



at Figs. 27 and 28) remain on the cocoons all the winter. In form 

 the eggs are round, with a rim near the top where there is a central 



depression. Their colour varies 

 from reddish-brown to reddish- 

 grey. 



These cocoons (i'ig. 26 d) are 

 found on the twigs, stems, etc., 

 of the trees, on fences, etc., near 

 by, and are quite conspicuous 

 objects when covered with the 

 ova (Fig. 27). 



They may commence to hatch 

 out as early as the end of April, 

 but such is unusual ; more 

 usually they hatch in June, and 

 each batch of eggs hatches out 

 irregularly. According to New- 

 man (4), they come out a few 

 at a time over a period of ten 

 weeks. 



Buckler (5) mentions that 



some eggs began hatching on 



the 14th of May, and the larvse 



continued to hatch out about 



two a day, sometimes three, until the 29th of May when there were 



" twenty-one hatched and I cast adrift the remaining eggs." 



The caterpillars reach about 1 J inch when mature ; they 

 are dark greyish, spotted with red, with four large dense tufts of 

 creamy yellow, almost white or brownish hairs on the back, like 

 four brushes, and with a loug tuft of dark hairs pointing forwards 

 on each side of the head, another pair on the fifth segment, and 

 a single group on the tail end, 

 these hairs all ending in fine pin- 

 like heads. 



They are full grown from 

 August to September ; although 

 many usually occur together they 

 feed separately on the leaves. 

 When full fed they spin cocoons 

 of pale silk mixed with hairs from 

 their tufts and change to browai pupie with numerous pale hairs. 

 This stage lasts from two to three weeks. 



[E. Tonge. 



FIG. 28.— EGCxS OF VAPOUKER MOTH. 

 (X 10.) 



[F. E. 

 :aterpillar of vapourer moth. 



