2 Insects most injurious to Cultivators : — 



disturb the nest just before the departure of the winged indi- 

 viduals, as it is then certain that pairing has not taken place. 

 The wasp, also, together with the earwig and the blue-bottle 

 fly, feast upon the ripe fruit. 



There is, however, an insect which, judging from its effects in 

 my father's garden, seems to me to be far more injurious to the 

 apricot than any of the former, in consequence of its totally 

 destroying the young fruit buds before the flowers have ex- 

 panded, and thus cutting off all chance of a crop. Last spring, 

 at the end of May and beginning of June (it would, of course, 

 be earlier in an eai'lier season), I observed that a great many of 

 the young buds, which were beginning to push out their leaves 

 and flowers, were prevented from so doing by having the outer 

 parts fastened together by fine threads ; which, in some instances, 

 completely prevented growth, whilst, in others, it was evident 

 (especially a few days later, after a little warm rain) that the 

 growth of the leaves was proceeding, although their extremities 

 were still tied together, which caused the stems of the leaves to 

 bend, and form a greater or less curve, according to the in- 

 creased growth of the leaf. Within the retreat thus formed, 

 and which generally enclosed the flower bud, an insect had taken 

 up its abode; a small slender caterpillar, about half an inch 

 long, which, at that time, had nearly assumed its full size, and 

 was of a pale yellowish green colour; the extremity of the body 

 being of a pale yellow ; the head, very pale brownish yellow-co- 

 loured, and scaly, as well as the first and following segments of 

 the body, which are of a semicircular form, with a black mark at 

 each of the posterior angles ; the eyes, the penultimate joint of 

 the antennae, and a spot on each side of the base of the head, 

 black. The body is, in general, of a fleshy consistence, with 

 transverse impressions near the articulations, and with lateral 

 tubercles. A few short hairs, or, rather, slender bristles, are scat- 

 tered over the body ; the three segments after the head are fur- 

 nished with as many pairs of articulated feet ; the fourth and 

 fifth segments are destitute of organs of locomotion ; the four 

 following segments have as many pairs of short prolegs, and a 

 fifth pair of these organs is placed at the extremity of the body. 

 This caterpillar is very active in its motions, writhing about from 

 side to side, and twisting its body into various curves when dis- 

 turbed : it also crawls both backwards and forwards, and will 

 let itself down from a considerable height by a single thread 

 attached to its mouth. Ordinarily, however, it keeps itself con^ 

 cealed within its green abode. Its presence may be easily 

 detected by the withered and gnawed appearance of the leaflets, 

 which, when dead, still cling together by many of the silken 

 threads with which they are attached, and which are generally 

 found about the twigs, with the withered petals of the adjacent 



