224 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. IQOt). 



from about July till the frosts in November. The remedy most 

 frequently recommended is kerosene emulsion. 



The greenhouse infestation at Ellsworth started on stocks that 

 had been transplanted from outside and the larvae were probably 

 taken • in with them, successive generations developing within 

 doors. Hand picking proved to be a perfectly effectual remedy 

 though a tedious task. 



• Six Troublesome Orchard Insects. The yellow-necked cater- 

 pillar, Datana ministra, and the red-humped caterpillar, 

 (Edemasia concinna, have created much alarm in Maine this 

 year. Entire orchards have been despoiled by these pests. 

 Young trees have suffered the worst injury not because 

 the caterpillars show a preference for them, but because 

 one brood is sufficient to strip a small tree, and the same num- 

 ber of leaves from a large tree does not mean so serious a loss. 

 The bud moth, Tmetocera ocellana, is at present doing much 

 damage in Maine orchards. Two species of tussock moths, 

 Notolophus leucostigma and antiqua have been abundant in 

 most parts of the State as has the orchard tent caterpillar. 



Limneria guignardi Prov. The red-humped caterpillars have 

 been in the southern counties abundantly attended by an ichneu- 

 mon parasite, Limneria guignardi Prov.* These parasites 

 attack the young caterpillars in the early stages, at which time 

 the caterpillar is just the right size to serve for food for a single 

 parasite. The parasite grub when full grown forms its cocoon 

 within the empty skin of the caterpillar which fits tight over the 

 cocoon. The caterpillar head being still attached, the object is 

 a curious one. When about to emerge the adult parasite gnaws 

 a hole at one end of the cocoon and takes wing. This hole is 

 sometimes near the head and sometimes near the caudal end of 

 the caterpillar skin. See Fig. 23. 



Yellow-edge Butterfly. From York to Aroostook counties 

 the spiny caterpillars of the yellow-edge butterfly, Buvanessa 

 antiopa, have been common on elm and willow. This species 

 has been almost constantly mistaken for gypsy caterpillars, and 

 has been the cause of numerous false alarms. A brood is occa- 

 sionally found upon apple trees, but it does not seem likely to 

 become an orchard pest, its preference is so evidently for willovr 



* Determined by comparison with Canadian material through the kind- 

 ness of Doctor Fletcher. 



