234 HORTICULTURE FOR SCHOOLS 



larvse from the infested trees. This is done by cutting the 

 branch on which they are feeding. Since this insect devours 

 the foliage, a poison spray such as arsenate of lead or paris 

 green can be used effectively in its control. It does not, 

 however, usually become serious enough so that spraying is 

 necessary. 



345. Tent-caterpillar. There are two species of tent- 

 caterpillars. One is commonly known as the eastern apple- 

 tree tent-caterpillar, the other as the western apple-tree tent- 

 caterpillar. The adult moths as well as the other stages of 

 the two insects are very similar in appearance. The brown 

 moths are distinguished by two white bands on the wings. 

 They have a wing expanse of about one and one-half inches 

 or less. The larvae are covered with a dense mass of hairs. 

 In color, they are black or yellow with white stripes and blue 

 or white dots on the side. In length, the adult larva is about 

 one and three-fourths inches. 



The eastern species constructs a large web nest which may 

 be commonly seen in cherry as well as apple trees. The eggs 

 of both species are laid in a mass encircling a small twig of the 

 host plant. The winter season is spent in this stage. 



Control of either species may be accomplished by the re- 

 moval of the infested twigs or by a thorough application of 

 an arsenical spray, preferably arsenate of lead. 



346. Fall webworms. Like the tent-caterpillars, the fall 

 webworms of the East and of the coastal region of the West 

 are different. In each case, the adult moth has snowy white 

 wings with an expanse of about one and one-half inches. 

 The eastern species differs from the western in having a 

 spotted abdomen. The female moth of each deposits from 

 four to five hundred eggs on the leaves of the trees. These 

 leaves serve as food for the larvse. The larvse are gregarious 

 in their feeding habits and large colonies may be found in 

 web nests spun about small branches of the tree. 



The winter season is spent in the soil or on the trunks of 



