54 



Insect Pests. 



The habits of the Winter Moth larvte are varied. At first, as 

 explained, they feed on the opening leaf buds ; later they get into the 

 blossom trusses and spin them together and also the leaves, living 

 under the shelter they form. Before 

 reaching maturity they feed freely on 

 the foliage again, and are known to 

 attack the fruit, especially cherries. 

 ^t Damage to fruit has been very notice- 



^!^^R . able when they invade gooseberries 



vK n growing under apples or plums. 



*^ I By the middle of June the cater- 



pillars arc mostly mature and they 

 tlien fall to the ground ; at least we 

 suppose so, for no one seems to have 

 observed them do other-wise. They all reach the ground in some 

 way, and the majority enter the soil to the depth of two or three 

 inches. Having pressed out a small cavity in the earth they spin 

 an oval case of silk, which Ijecomes covered externally with particles 

 of earth. In this silken and earthen case the " Looper " larva, having 



FIG. 43.— I'UP.B AND COCOi 

 WINTER MOTH. 



OF THE 



[ M'. //. Uainmoiid. 

 FIG. 44.— APPLE TREES DEFOLIATED BY WINTER MOTH LARV.E. 



contracted considerably, casts its skin and becomes a brown pupa. 

 This hatches into the male or female from October to early January, 

 and the adult forces its way out of the soil. If in grass orchards it 



