40 



Insect Pests. 



at Figs. '2.1 and 28) remain on the cocoons all the winter. In form 

 the eggs are round, with a rim near the top where there is a central 



depression. Their colour varies 

 from reddish-brown to reddish- 

 grey. 



These cocoons (Kg. 26 d) are 

 found on the twigs, stems, etc., 

 of the trees, on fences, etc., near 

 by, and are C{uite conspicuous 

 objects when covered with the 

 ova (Fig. 27). 



They may commence to hatch 

 out as early as the end of April, 

 Ijut such is unusual ; more 

 usually they hatch in June, and 

 each batch of eggs hatches out 

 irregularly. According to New- 

 man (4), they come out a few 

 at a time over a period of ten 

 weeks. 



Buckler (."i) mentions that 

 some eggs began hatching on 

 the 14th of ]\Iay, and the larvfe 

 continued to hatch out about 

 two a day, sometimes three, until the 29th of May when there were 

 " twenty-one hatched and I cast adrift the remaining eggs." 



The caterpillars leach about 1^ inch when mature; they 

 are dark greyish, spotted with red, with four large dense tufts of 

 creamy yellow, almost white or brownish hairs on the back, like 

 four biaislies, and with a long tuft of dark hairs pointing forwards 

 on each side of the head, another pair on the fifth segment, and 

 a single group on the tail end, 

 tliese hairs all ending in tine pin- 

 like heads. 



Tliey are full gro\\-n from 

 August to Septemljer; altliougli 

 many usually occur together the)' 

 feed separately ou tlie leaves. 

 When full fed tliey spin cocoons 

 of pale sillv mixed witli hairs fi'oni 

 their tufts and change to brown pnp;e with numerous pale hairs 

 I'his stage lasts from two to three weeks. 



[E. 7'oiKje. 

 FIG. 2S. — EC.'IS nF VAPOUr.Kr. i\IOTH. 

 (X 10.) 



l;-^ e. 



'.\.TK]a'Il.l..Ml OF V.VruUKEK MOTH. 



