60 Vict. Provin(;ial Board of Horticulture. 31 



The larvae of the Tussock Moth {Orgyia antiqua), identified by Dr. Fletcher, are reported 



from Victoria, New Westminster and adjoining districts— feeding upon the leaves of fruit and 



other trees. When mature, the caterpillars are very pretty, having bright 



Tussock Moth, red heads, and yellowish bodies, bearing a series of dense, abruptly cut-off 



brushes on the middle of their backs, with two pencils of black hair on the 



anterior, and one on the posterior of each. 



The eggs from which the caterpillars hatch are often noticed in winter on dead leaves 

 which are fastened to the trees, with usually the empty cocoon attached. The injury from 

 these pests is best prevented by the destruction of these egg masses during the winter. 



The caterpillars may be killed by using the Paris green spray, or, if not too numerous, 

 picking might be resorted to. 



This insect {Plutella cruciferarum), the enemy of cabbages and allied plants, is reported 



from Duncan's and Burgoyne Bay, and is probably present to a, greater or less extent in 



adjoining districts. The caterpillars are green in colour, and about J inch 



Back'^Moth ^"^ ^®"g*^' ^^^ ^^''7 active ; they eat holes through the young leaves and the 



under surface of older leaves of their food plants. When disturbed they run 



backwards, wriggling their bodies violently from side to side, and fall to the ground by means 



of a silken thread, where ^they lie quite still. 



The moth is very variable in size and colour — the general colour being ashy-gray, with 

 a light stripe of somewhat diamond-shaped marks on the back, more or less distinct, though 

 sometimes wanting. The upper wings are freckled with black dots and small blotches of 

 yellowish scales. 



There are two or three broods of this insect during the season. 



Hellebore gives good results against this pest, used either dry or as a spray, but Dr. 



Fletcher reports better results from the use of kerosene emulsion. A plentiful use of water to 



keep plants in a thriving condition, is also a good means of dealing with the 



Remedies. pest, which thrives especially well in dry seasons. Being remarkably subject 



to the attacks of parasites, it is seldom troublesome during successive seasons, 



periodical attacks being the rule. 



The Red-humped caterpillar ((Edemasia concinna) is reported from Lytton and Chilli 

 whack, feeding upon the foliage of apple and other fruit trees. 



The head of this caterpillar is red, and there is a hump on its back of the same colour, 



on the fourth ring or segment ; the body is marked lengthwise by slender black, yellow and 



white lines, and has two rows of black prickles along the back and other 



Red-Humped shorter ones upon the sides, from each of which there arises a fine hair. 



' The hinder segments taper a little, and are always elevated, when the insect 



is not crawling. It measures, when full grown, about 1|^ inches in length. 



The caterpillars feed together in numbers, usually stripping the branches of leaves as they 

 proceed. When handled, they emit a transparent fluid having a strong acid smell. When 

 full grown they descend to the ground and conceal themselves under leaves or slightly below 

 the surface, after a time changing to brown chrysalids. 



The moths usually appear about June, and are described as follows : — The fore-wings are 

 dark bi-own on the inner and grayish on the outer margin, with a dot near the middle, a spot 

 near each angle, and several longitudinal streaks along the hind margin, all dark brown. 



The hind wings of the male are brownish, or dirty white ; those of the female dusky 

 brown. When expanded, the wings measure 1 to 1^ inches across. 



The female deposits her eggs in a cluster on the under side of a leaf ; these soon hatch 

 into small caterpilars, which at first feed on the substance of the under side of the leaf ; later 

 on they consume the entire leaves. When not eating, they remain close 

 Easily Destroyed, together, sometimes completely covering the branch they rest upon. On 

 account of this habit they can be easily gathered and destroyed, or the 

 limb cut off and trampled under foot. They are also easily destroyed by using the Paris 

 green spray, No. 9. 



