262 YPONOMEUTA EUONYMELLA. 



dant in some parts of the county a few years ago, 

 and caused considerable defoliation. The moth 

 {Yponomeuta euonymella) is white; its wings prettily 

 marked with numerous black dots. The larvae spin a 

 large white web, not unlike some kind of cotton fabric ; 

 and under this they Hve together in numerous com- 

 munities. In 1828 they appeared in such quantities 

 about Whitehouse, three miles from this town, that 

 all the Euonymus trees in the shrubberies there were 

 destroyed, the leaves being devoured, and the plant 

 covered by their webs, or rather enveloped in them. 

 At the Cave Hill every plant of the Euonymus euro- 

 pcEus, which there grows wild, was left without a 

 leaf. Along the Falls road the ravages of the same 

 caterpillar were visible. From Lough Neagh I have 

 specimens of this insect, along with some of an allied 

 species (Ypono7neuta padelhi) which assisted in the 

 work of devastation. Mr. William M'Clure, wine- 

 merchant of this town, informed me, that he had an 

 extensive orchard on the banks of the Lough, at the 

 Crumlin river, which sustained very considerable da- 

 mage from the destruction of the crop by these assail- 

 ants. My friend, Mr. John Brown of Randalstown, 

 made at my request some inquiry respecting these 

 insects, and in March, 1834, Idndly communicated 

 the following information with regard to their ravages 

 in that neighbourhood : — 



1 



