94 [Assembly, 



quarters of an inch to an inch long when it has its growth, of dark 

 color, travels like a measuring-worm, and on jarring the tree spins 

 down on a fine single web. The trees look as if they had been 

 scorched by fire after the worms get through. Please give me 

 what information you possess as to the name and characteristics of 

 the worm ; also, what will prevent their coming, or drive them 

 away when here ? 



The spring canker-worm and its characteristic depredations are 

 described in the above note of inquiry. 



The increase and spread of this apple-tree pest throughout our 

 State should arouse our orchardists to the importance of employing 

 active measures against it upon its first notice. If operations are 

 commenced in time, it can be exterminated with comparatively 

 little labor. The insect — one of the moth family — is not distrib- 

 uted by flight, as are nearly all our insect pests, as the female moth is 

 destitute of wings. For a year or two, or for a longer time, its 

 attack may be limited to a single tree in an orchard. Whenever 

 it appears in a new locality its introduction is probably through 

 human agency. 



The following brief description of the insect will aid in its recog- 

 nition by those who are unacquainted with it : 



The caterpillar, when its operations disclose its presence, is about 

 half an inch in length. It is a slender creature, which travels by 

 arching its body after the manner of the other " measuring-worms," 

 to which class it belongs. At first of a dark olive-green or brown 

 color, it becomes darker with age, as it approaches maturity, when 

 it changes to a dark brown color — in some cases almost black. It 

 is marked longitudinally with several pale or yellowish stripes, 

 particularly upon its sides. When full grown it measures about an 

 inch in length. 



The female moth is without wings, clothed with grayish hairs, 

 which are sprinkled with black, and with a black stripe upon the 

 back of its abdomen. Its general appearance is spider-like and the 

 ordinary observer would not suspect its being a moth. The male 

 moth, which rarely comes under notice, has an expanse of about 

 one inch. The wings are large in proportion to the body, thin, 

 gray in color, with usually three crooked, transverse, dusky lines 

 upon the front pair. The hinder pair are without markings. 



The remedies to be used against this pest have been so often 

 published in our agricultural papers that it hardly seems necessary 



