24 REPORT ON INJURIOUS INSECTS FOR 1906. 



The young caterpillars at once commence to make their way all 

 over the tree. As soon as full-fed the larva spins a cocoon, which 

 it attaches to the bark of the tree or to twigs, or it may be to the 

 leaves. The moths emerge about twenty-one days later. Those eggs 

 which remain unhatched until the following year hatch out in May, 

 so that it is possible for a second brood to appear in the same year. 



PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



As the female moths are unable to fly, grease banding should be 

 carried out. 



All egg masses and cocoons should be destroyed in the winter. 



Spraying with arsenate of lead will destroy the caterpillars, but 

 on fruit trees this should be carried out some time before the fruit is 

 gathered. The sprayfluid is prepared as follows: Dissolve I oz. of 

 arsenate of soda in warm water, and add 16 gallons of soft water. 

 Dissolve HlslT-3 ozs. of acetate of lead in soft water, and add to the 

 above and stir well. To this sprayfluid either 2 pints of a paraffin 

 emulsion may be added or 2 Ibs. of treacle. 



THE LACKEY MOTH. 



Bombyx neustria. Linn. 



Throughout the Midlands this moth has been unusually plentiful 

 during the past year. In other countries the caterpillars of this moth 

 have at times done serious damage, and it would be unwise to neglect 

 the carrying out of proper methods until the pest becomes a plague. 



LIFE-HISTORY. 



The moths appear in July. About the middle of that month or 

 early in August the female deposits 300 to 400 greyish-brown eggs. 

 The egg masses usually take the form of a close spiral, and form 

 cylindrical masses around the young stems and shoots. A Worcester 

 correspondent, however, writes that the moths have been so prolific in 

 his district that they have not only deposited the eggs in bands, but 

 on the cocoons, and scattered them everywhere. For the first time he 

 had noticed them on Black Currants. 



Early in the following May the small, black, hairy caterpillars 

 appear, and immediately commence to spin webs, which are enlarged 

 from time to time. Here they live in companies varying from 30 to 

 100 until full-fed. During the day time they leave these webs and 

 feed upon the leaves, returning at night or during wet weather. In 

 fine sunny weather the somewhat handsomely-coloured caterpillars 

 may be seen suspended from the branches by threads, or if disturbed 

 they will let themselves down in this manner. 



