Insects Injurious to the Apple. 55 



is not unusual to find the cocoon (devoid, of course, of any earth) 

 amongst grass and otiier herbage. Tlie depth at which pupation 

 takes place in the soil is very variable. If the soil is rough and 

 cloddy they frequently pupate under a clod ; if firm and compact 

 they enter the soil to a depth of two inches. All those kept in 

 confinement pupated from one to three inches, never deeper, and 

 very few more than two inches below the surface. 



Peevp^ntion axd Ke^iedies. 



The prevention of this and the allied pests, the ^Mottled Umber 

 Moth, and the March Moth, is an easy matter. The process, namely, 

 grease-banding, is well known to all fruit-growers and is firmly 

 believed in and carried out by very many. 



It must be borne in mind, however, that it is only these wingless 

 females wdiich are caught ; grease-banding has no effect on such pests 

 as the Lackey Moth, Figure-of-8 Moth, Gold and Brown Tail Moths, 

 Tortrix Moths or the Little Ermine, which have winged females. 

 But where the Winter Moth and its allies are the culprits then 

 grease-banding is far better than relying on spraying. 



The bands should be made as follows : — First tie on the tree a 

 band of good stout grease-proof paper, so that nothing can crawl 

 beneath it, then smear this over with sticky grease. There are 

 several kinds on the market, and the grower will find out which have 

 the most permanent sticky qualities. 



The position of the bands adopted by growers varies. Some apply 

 them high up the trunks, others low down. In the former case the 

 reason given is that stock rubs off the grease. It may be pointed 

 out that when the bands are placed high up, many eggs have been 

 detected laid on the trunks. In due course these will hatch out and 

 the larvffi may ascend to the boughs. It is best, therefore, to apply 

 the bands low down, about 1 foot from the surface, in grass orchards, 

 where mud spattering does not interfere with the grease. In bush 

 plantations this can be done, and it has been found that when placed 

 so low down in grass orchards that sheep do little harm to the grease. 

 Where the ground is cultivated, however, it is sometimes found that 

 if the bands are placed lower than 2 feet that they get covered in 

 mud. 



In young trees it is necessary to band the stakes as well, for 

 the females will crawl up these as readily as the stem. 



For the Winter Moth the banding should be in working order by 

 the 1st of October and should be kept going until the second week 

 in January. It is of no use to grease the bands once and then leave 



