THE EUROPEAN" PINE-SHOOT MOTH. 5 



cen place, and the indications are very strong that the pest has be- 

 ne established in several other widely distributed localities, either 

 direct importation from Europe or by distribution from infested 

 nerican nurseries. This is particularly to be suspected of locali- 

 s where large importations and plantings of European pines have 

 m made. 



^.s yet the pest has been found only in nurseries and private parks 

 3plied by these infested nurseries. In no case has it yet been 

 ind on forest trees in America. The species is therefore at present 

 inly a nursery problem in this country and consequently may yet 

 controlled and possibly even eliminated by proper measures under 

 deral and State supervision. That this condition can not long 

 lure and that the pest, if not checked, will soon multiply and 

 'ead to native pines outside of nurseries and pass beyond the pos- 

 ility of elimination is clearly indicated by all the evidence on 



tid. 



LIFE HISTORY. 



[n Europe the moths (PI. II, upper figure) issue in July, some- 

 les as early as the end of June, and in the warm evenings they 

 arm around the pines in large numbers. During the day they sit 

 ietly on the branches, as can be ascertained by giving the tree a 

 irp jolt, which will cause the moths to fly out. When the insect sits 

 11 on the food plant it is not easily discovered, for the apparently 

 iking orange-red color blends well with the natural surroundings 

 I therefore must be classed as a protective coloration. Early in 

 igust the eggs are laid singly on the new buds for next year's 

 }wth, the terminal cluster of buds being nearly always chosen for 

 iposition. The young larva soon hatches and eats its way into the 

 d, making itself a roomy cell by devouring the live inside part. It 

 ains a length of only a few millimeters during the fall months, and 

 srwinters within the hollow bud. At this stage its presence is 

 dly overlooked, though a trained eye will discover a small exuda- 

 n of pitch over the entrance hole differing from the normal exuda- 

 n of the buds. (See PI. III.) 



En May, as soon as the sap begins to rise in the trees, the larva 

 3 buds. (See PI. III.) 



,ves its winter quarters and bores into the bud next thereto, in 

 ?n destroying this and as many others as it needs for food. As 

 3 remaining buds adjoining begin to grow into young shoots the 

 •va attacks them. It eats the entire inside of the youngest shoots 

 d these consequently die. The more developed shoots are injured 

 ly on one side, and these sometimes continue to grow, but are bent 

 wnward at the injured spot. The larva (PL II, lower figure) feeds 

 ly on the soft growth on which the needles have not yet appeared, 

 d by the time the needles have developed all, or nearly all, of the 

 Dots in the infested cluster have become dead or injured. The 



