I)iscct^ lujurioHS to the Apple. 



53 



The ova (Fig. 3S ) are very marketl. At first they are pale yellowish- 

 green, later they hecome lirick-dnst re(l. They are slightly elongate, 

 truneateil at each end and have a <lis- 

 tinctly sculptured shell. The position in 

 which they are laid varies, some are 

 placed around buds, some are around Ihe 

 inside of pruned surhices, others in 

 crevices in the twigs and smaller houghs. 

 rrei.|uently they are well prutected by 

 the natural hairs ot the shouts, mosses, 

 lichens, etc. The shell is thick and is 

 quite unlikely to he all'ected by any (■heiuical that would not 

 seriously harm the trees, if not kill them. The period cf hatching 

 varies each ye;ir and in diribreut localities. Tlie small caterpillars 



usually liatch hciore the 

 liuds burst and at once 

 ciimmeirce to attack the 

 \-oung fuliagi' as it opens. 

 The minute " Troopers " are 

 at lirst dark in culour and 

 very difficult to detect 

 unless the)' are nlo^•ing. 

 At first they feed freely 

 (in the small leaves. As 

 they grow thej' become 

 green with pale lines 

 along their liodies, some 

 velhiwisli - green, others 

 dark green with the pale 

 lines mure promineut. 

 The colour nf the head 

 also varies at diflerent 

 stages. AA'hen mature they 

 reach 1:} inch to rather 

 more in length, A\dien 

 fully expanded. The exact 

 length must not be taken 

 into account liowever, as 

 they vary sn much ac- 

 cording to their degrei' of 

 extension. They are always much fatter than those of the March 

 j\Ioth, which is the only one they are likely to be confused with. 



FIG. 42. 

 .\PPI,E LE.IK EATEN BY T« " Vur.NO MIME]; MnTH I..IEV.E. 



(Set-ii nil tile leaf.) 



