FRUITS. VARIETIES AND CULTURE. 339 



oak. The beetle is about half an inch long, flattened; 

 color greenish-black, with a brassy polish; two very dis- 

 tinct metallic spots on the wing cover ; eye prominent ; 

 head broad ; antenna? short ; thighs of the hind legs thick- 

 ened and dilated. The insects make their appearance from 

 about the time the apple blossoms, and continue some 

 two months. They may be seen running up and down the 

 trunk of the tree, and the eggs are deposited on the bark. 

 The larva has nearly the same habits as the common 

 borer, but differs greatly in appearance. It is a pale yel- 

 low, footless grub, with its anterior end enormously large, 

 round, and flattened. The remedies are the same as for 

 the common borer. 



The Apple-tree Caterpillar, or Tent-caterpillar, 

 campa Americana?) is a black, hairy caterpillar, with white 

 lines, and along each side a row of blue spots. They live 

 in societies in large, cobweb-like nests in the forks of the 

 apple and wild cherry, which they form when the tree comes 

 into leaf. From these, after having perhaps deprived the 

 tree of all foliage, they finally disperse and spin oval 

 white cocoons, which they place in a sheltered situation. 

 The moth appears some eight weeks after the caterpillar 

 first comes, and is dull brownish-red, with its fore wings 

 crossed by two white bands parallel to the hind margin. 

 The moth lays its eggs in large rings on the branches of 

 trees, which are hatched the ensuing spring. If any of 

 these clusters of eggs are found at pruning time, cut them 

 off and burn them. If any caterpillars appear in the spring, 

 they may be removed by a round bush fastened to a pole, 

 which is put into the nest, and with a few turns, web and 

 all are removed to be crushed by the foot. It is best to 

 search for and destroy the nest and its contents when very 

 small. Evening fires in the orchard will attract and de- 

 stroy the moth. This insect is very injurious. 



The Handmaid Moth, \Datana ministra,) is a brown, 



