THE BUD MOTH 257 



ing the edge of the leaf down, fastening it, and sparsely lining 

 the interior with silk. It comes forth from this tube to feed, but 

 quickly retreats into it again when disturbed. Pupation occurs in 

 a cocoon formed in a similar manner. The moths, which in New 

 York appear in the latter part of June, fly mostly at night, re- 

 maining quiet on the trunk and limbs of trees during the day, and 

 are so similar to the bark in color as not to be easily seen. 



The eggs are generally laid singly on the under surface of the 

 leaves, and are so nearly transparent that they closely resemble 

 fish scales or minute drops of water. They hatch in from seven 

 to ten days, and these summer larvae soon make themselves a tube 

 of silk mingled with bits of excrement. They feed on the epi- 

 dermis and inner tissue of the leaf, not eating through it, and 

 spin a protecting web over their entire feeding ground. After the 

 third moult, when they have attained a length of about 4 milli- 

 meters, they leave their tubes, and make for themselves a little 

 silken cell in some crevice or roughness of the bark, where they 

 pass the winter, in readiness for the opening buds the follow- 

 ing spring. Their injuries at that time are particularly exas- 

 perating, because they apparently destroy as many leaves and 

 flowers as possible by eating only a part of each. There is nor- 

 mally but one brood in northern latitudes, though since the larvae 

 hibernate when half-grown, two different generations appear dur- 

 ing the same season. 



Remedies. The following is Slingerland's summary concerning 

 the treatment of this enemy: 



"It is not practicable to try to check this pest in either the 

 adult or egg stages, or while it is in hibernation as a half -grown 

 larva. Undoubtedly it can be checked somewhat by spraying in 

 July, when the larvae are at work on the under side of the leaves. 

 But the best time to combat the pest the most profitably and suc- 

 cessfully is in the spring, when a little poison can be easily 

 sprayed upon the opening buds ; and thus the little larva, hungry 

 from its long winter's fast, will be quite certain to get the fatal 

 dose at its first meal." 



It is preyed upon by several hymenopterous parasites, a large 

 predacious wasp, Odynerus Catskillensis, and by birds. 



Q 



