186 



Invect Pests. 



THE LARGE TORTOISESHELL BUTTERFLY. 



( Van<:>;sii. iiiiIiii'Tilorob. Linn.) 



This lirauliful butterfly is now and again sufficiently abundant 

 to do some Ijarm to fruit trees. Owing to the gregarious haluts of 

 the caterpilhu-s tlie damage is especially noticeable, for large circum- 

 scribed areas are defoliated liy the colonies. 



\\\ France tlio cherry is often attacked by these caterpillars. Li 

 this C(.nintry i( also attacks the pear, and T liave once found a 



colony on the apjile in Kent. Its ehiel' food plant seems to be the elm, 

 but it also is found on aspen, sallofl- and osiers. Taschenberu (1) 

 andlvaltenliaiL (1^) alsoreeonl it from applein Germany. Ovmerod (:'.) 

 refers to it as damaging cherry trees at Lymington in Hamp.shire. 

 lu the neighbourhood of A\'ye Ihave often seen cherry trees, especially 

 sour cherries, stripped liy the ca.terpillars, but not since I'JOLh 



