Insects InjioioKs to the Apple. 



65 



secondly, tlie strange, minietic luibits of tlie larva prevent its beini 

 Seen (Fig. fiS). 



Specimens with inqnirics 

 have been sent mo i'rom several 

 places in Yorl^shire, from most 

 of the home connties, and twice 

 from Somerset. 



Lii-'i>Histoi:y, Eti*. 



Tlie moth (Fig. 0(1) belongs 

 to the Geometridie, the Looper- 

 caterpillar family. In size it 

 varies from l^V to nearly 2-|- inches in wing expanse. The 

 general appearance is seen in the figure. Tlie ground colour is 

 dull white, and all four wings are speckled with black, variations 

 occur such as ):ilack dots, traces of transverse black lines and a 

 more prominent black central spot. In a few rare cases true melanic 

 forms occur, the insect becoming almost lilack. They are found in 



late IMay and in dune and duly, 

 in gardens, fruit plantations and 

 woods. 



The female, which is always 

 larger than the male, places her 

 eggs singly on the leaves of appde, 

 cherry, hawthorn, oak, elm, poplar 

 and birch. They now and a,gaiii 

 hatch in mid dune, but the 

 majority hatch in late July and 

 August. The caterpillars grow 

 but slowly ; the late hatched ones 

 I have found as late as the :->Oth 

 of (Jctober, liut the majority we 

 notice in Kent in Septend,)er. The 

 caterpillars when mature reacli 

 over 2 inches in length, they are 

 verv varialile in cohjur, some are 

 green, otliers yellow, others dark 

 brown. They resemble a stick in 

 appearance. The colour of all 

 those I have found on apple and 

 cherry has been dark brown, those 

 on hop, called " Hop Cats " in Kent, are always green ; in all there 



[ir. ri. llaiinn 

 .— L.VRVA OF PEPI'EK AND .'<AI,T MUTII. 



Brown variety mi fruit trees. 



