INSECT AND FUNGOID ENEMIES 177 



Moths. 



Dicranura Vinula (the Puss Moth). This is one of our 

 finest British moths, and the caterpillar is also one of 

 our largest and finest. The moth is 3 inches or more 

 across the wings and covered with silky hairs, brindled 

 grey in colour, the body reminding one of a cat ; hence the 

 name. The caterpillars are very odd-looking creatures: 

 bright green in colour, with a diamond-shaped, greenish- 

 brown patch upon its back, and a hump over the fourth 

 segment. It has a white line surrounding the brown 

 patch, and a white spiracle on each segment and a brown 

 spot upon the seventh. Its head is black, and appears 

 as if surrounded by a hood, reddish in colour. It has a 

 forked tail, from which, when aroused, two thin, thread- 

 like organs are put out. It also assumes a fighting 

 attitude, rearing its head and forelegs from the branch. 

 They live upon the foliage of Poplars and Willows. The 

 cocoon, inside of which pupation takes place, is hard and 

 shell-like, made from " sawdust " nibbled from the branch 

 upon which it is made. 



Galls. 



Many gall insects attack these trees, and they are 

 sometimes attacked by a scale insect, Chionaspis salicis, 

 which is also found on Ash. 



PINES. 



Beetles-. 



Hylobius Abietis (the Pine Weevil). This insect is un- 

 doubtedly the most destructive insect in Britain. It not 

 only attacks the Pines from which it gets its name, but 



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