92 Insect Pests. 



also doubtful, if used at the strength generally employed, but it can 

 be used at double that strength on dormant wood, even if 98 per cent, 

 strength of commercial caustic soda is used. The stronger solution 

 would, I feel sure, destroy the glutinous cover over the young cater- 

 pillars. General observations have tended to confirm this view. The 

 tents should always be collected as soon as they are seen forming, 

 and burnt with their complement of larvae, or collected and put in 

 pails of quicklime. Those high up may be cut off with long-handled 

 shears, such as are used for tree trimming. 



The species on hawthorn hedges may be destroyed on a large 

 scale by beating the hedges with supple sticks, and treading on the 

 caterpillars as they fall down, or with lighted torches. 



Natueal Enemiks. 



The Little Ermine Moth caterpillars are preyed upon by Starlings, 

 which greedily devour them, and I have bred an Ichneumon in 

 numbers from specimens collected in Kent. 



Eefebences. 



(1) Theobald, F. V. Second Eeport on Economic Zoology (Brit. Mus., N.H.), 



p. 31 (1904). 



(2) Ormerod, E. A. ' Handbook of Insects Injurious to Orchard and Bush 



Fruits,' p. 27 (1898). 



(3) Wliitehead, Sir C. Eeport on Insects Injurious to Fruit Crops, p. 68 



(1886). 



(4) Stainton. H. T. ' Lepidoptera Tineina, Insecta Britannica, vol. III., p. 60 



(1854). 



(5) Marchal, P. Bulletin Societe d'idltudes et de Vulgarisation de la Zoologie 



Agricole. No. 4, p. 17 (1902). 



THE PITH MOTHS. 



{Blastodama hcUerella, Dup., and Blastodacna vinolentella, 

 Herr-Schaff.) 



The Pith Moths are small Tineid moths whose larvte cause a good 

 deal of harm to apple trees. The damage done is particularly notice- 

 able in nursery stock, but bush apples are affected in the orchards. 

 The larva3 tunnel into the buds, spurs and shoots, and kill them. The 

 leaves and blossom flag, then gradually turn brown and die. The 

 dead parts may remain on the trees some time or they may fall off. 

 Buds are killed ia late autumn and winter. The attack of the Pith 

 Moth larvas may at once be told from that of the Bud Moth by the 



