192 LEPIDOPTEKA (MOTHS). 



by any shock they drop off, hanging by a silken cord, which 

 they use to regain the leaf when the supposed danger has 

 passed. In from four to five weeks the larvae are mature, and 

 then spin a tube of loose yellowish silk on to the leaf, blocking 

 up one end with their cast skin and covering the other with a 

 few threads. Inside a black and greyish-white pupa wOl be 

 found. As pupfe they remain from two to tliree weeks. There 

 are two broods in the year in most places — the winter being 

 passed in the pupal stage on dead leaves, &c. There may be 

 more than two broods, but we do not know for certain. 



Remedies. — This is an extremely difficult pest to cope with, 

 as it feeds on the under-surfaoe of the foliage. But their habit 

 of falling off the leaf when disturbed puts them imder our 

 control. An ingenious plan used by a Yorkshire farmer was to 

 attach boughs to the nozzles of the " strawsoniser '' in front, so 

 that the silken cords of the larvse are broken, and they then fall 

 to the ground and are reached by the insecticide used. Paraffin 

 emulsion is as good as any to spray with. "Where no " straw- 

 soniser " can be got, taking the " scufBer " through the roots 

 with supple birch or broom twigs attached will knock the larvse 

 off; a little plough following after will kill the pests as they lie 

 on the ground. It was noticed in 1891 that the caterpillars all 

 suddenly disappeared after a heavy rainstorm. Most larvae of 

 moths are unable to stand a heavy downpour, — they seem- 

 ingly swell up and die. Luckily a number of Ichneumons prey 

 on tliis pest, and help to keep its numbers down. 



The Cherry-free Case-hearer (Coleojihora anatapenella). 



During the last few years this peculiar insect has made its 

 presence felt upon cherry and apple trees in the southern parts 

 of England. The Coleophorida' are all very small Tineinae, 

 with greyish pointed wings fringed witli long hair. Their larvae 

 live in variously formed cases, by which they may very easily 

 be identified. C. anatapenella appears in July and August, 



