Insects Injurious to the Apple. 



53 



[Edenden. 



LOOPER CATERPILLAR OP 

 WINTER MOTH. 



The ova (Fig. 38) are very marked. At first they are pale yellowish- 

 green, later they become brick-dust red. They are slightly elongate 

 truncated at each end and have a dis- 

 tinctly sculptured shell. The position in 

 which they are laid varies, some are 

 placed around buds, some are around the 

 inside of pruned surfaces, others in 

 crevices in the twigs and smaller boughs. 

 Frequently they are well protected by 

 the natural hairs of the shoots, mosses, 

 lichens, etc. The shell is thick and is 



quite unlikely to be affected by any chemical that would not 

 seriously harm the trees, if not kill them. The period of hatching 

 varies each year and in different localities. The small caterpillars 



usually hatch before the 

 buds burst and at once 

 commence to attack the 

 young foliage as it opens. 

 The minute " Loopers " are 

 at first dark in colour and 

 very difficult to detect 

 unless they are moving. 

 At first they feed freely 

 on the small leaves. i\s 

 they grow they become 

 green with pale lines 

 along their bodies, some 

 yellowish - green, others 

 dark green with the pale 

 lines more prominent. 

 The colour of the head 

 also varies at different 

 stages. When mature they 

 reach 1^ inch to rather 

 more in length, when 

 fully expanded. The exact 

 length must not be taken 

 into account however, as 

 they vary so much ac- 

 cording to their degree of 

 extension. They are always much fatter than those of the March 

 Moth, which is the only one they are likely to be confused with. 



'. D. Itintoul. 



FIG. 42. 



APPLE LEAF EATEN BY TWO YOUNG WINTER MOTH LARV.E. 



(Seen on the leaf.) 



