98 



Insect Pests. 



niiilwiutev in box hedges in my garden. The first sign of larval life 

 may be uotieed in I\Iay. The female as a rule deposits cue minnte 

 egg fill each apple leaf or sometimes cherry leaf. In ("at present) an 

 unknown period tlie larva hatches and bores into the leaf and there 

 forms a twisted and serpentine tunnel (Fig. So) in the leaf, feeding 

 upon the soft parenchyma. Although I have been unable to note 

 the egg it is evidently laid upon, not in. the leaf, as a miniito' hole 

 can often be seen at one end of the tunnel through which the larva 

 has doubtless entered. The larva gradually enlarges this tunnel 

 as it grows : at its end it is usually li rnm. across. The tunnel 

 may lie brown, Idack or grey, tlie larger end usually showing 

 a median linu of dark "frass." Inside this tunnel will be found 

 the green caterpillar varying from pale to deep apple-gieen. It 

 readies when full grown t; mni. in length ; the segment^ are 



\Unr,u;_ Kin.iht. 



FIG. SI).— .U'l'I.K IKAK MINER {Ltionetia derckfUa). 



deeply constricted and more or less rounded : the head rs dark. 

 and there are two dark patches on the first secjment and also a hair 

 on each segment. In general form the larva^is flattened. The .six 

 jointed-legs are brown and the eight prolegs also brown to almost 

 black. Larval life seems variable, for some were mature four vreeks 

 after the first signs of the tunnels were noticed, others not until five 

 weeks. The larva can be s«n in its tunnel bv hohlin.r the leaf 

 against the light. They fit in so closely that thev can scai^elv move 

 towards the end of their growth. 



When mature they leave the leaf bv eating their wav out of the 

 gallery and crawl about upon the leaves for a short time. T.^uallv 

 m a tew liours they commence to spin a coc.on on tlir leaf These 

 cocoons are generally spun on the under side of the leave- but 

 may occur on the upper side, tbe latter onlv when thev settle 



