Insects Injurious to the Apple. 43 



This is because the dull colours of the moth resemble so closely the 

 bark of the trees upon which they rest. Although the moth is not 

 frequently seen, nevertherless in its caterpillar state it is a common 

 <xnd. well-known object ; whilst the damage the larvse do is so very 

 marked that there are few people who cannot recognise the ravages 

 •of this pest. 



The Goat j\Ioth (Cosshs lignipcrda) is found in most wooded 

 parts of Great Britain, and is especially common in and around 

 towns, where ornamental and park trees are frequently ruined by 

 them. I have seen great numbers of trees killed in and around 

 London, whilst in the suburbs the damage is still more frequent. 



Similarly in France, especially around Paris, considerable damage 

 is done by them ; the elms in the Bois de Boulogne have suffered 

 severely. It is also a pest in Germany and other parts of Europe. 

 In Great Britain it is perhaps most abundant in the south and 

 east, but its attacks are frequent even up to the extreme north of 

 ■Scotland. 



The damage is done to the trees by the caterpillars eating tunnels 

 and galleries into the very heart of the trunks. They do not pick out 

 unhealthy trees only, perfectly sound ones often being invaded. As 

 as rule, when once a tree is " struck," unless remedial measures are 

 -employed, it will be killed sooner or later, according to the number 

 of these pests attacking it. 



Not infrequently reports are sent from orchardists as to their 

 ■damaging apple and pear trees, and I have seen them once attacking 

 the walnut (1). The damage done in orchards is, however, unusual. 

 It has been recorded as attacking apple and pear in France, and 

 in Germany Taschenberg (2) records that two hundred and sixty- 

 six larvfe were taken from one pear tree. The number found in a 

 tree varies front one or more up to the number recorded above by 

 Taschenberg. Generally, not more than twenty or thirty are found 

 in a forest tree of the largest size in this country, and but few, as a 

 rule, in fruit trees. The wood eventually becomes completely honey- 

 combed, and it is not until the tree is really dead that they stop their 

 work. The caterpillars, if not mature, leave the dead tree and 

 ■crawl to a neighbouring one, or may even feed on roots in the 

 ground. 



Their presence can be told, when in small numbers, by the holes 

 in the trunk, often as big round as a man's finger ; later, boughs 

 begin to die and break off during gales, even when they are still 

 sufficiently healthy to have foliage upon them. In a few years the 

 •damage becomes more noticeable, both in regards to decaying and 



