INSECT AND OTHER PLANT ENEMIES. 



95 



shelter; and the moth may be found in swarms 

 during July and August. 



Remedies. — Keep a sharp look-out for the first 

 appearance of the caterpillars about the middle 

 of May, and before they have had time to 



Fig. 117.— Small Ermine Moth {Hyponomeuta Padellus). 

 1. Caterpillar. 2. Moth. 3. Larva in web. 



destroy the foliage. Syringe the trees with 

 kerosene emulsion as prescribed for Slug-worms, 

 or with Paris-green, at the rate of 1 lb. to 

 150 gallons of water; but do not forget to add 

 some lime, otherwise the young leaves will get 

 damaged with so strong a solution. Strong 

 soap-suds, though not equally so effective as the 

 above, may be used instead, if preferred, be- 

 cause less dangerous. Apply the solution with 

 a garden engine during the day, when many 

 of the caterpillars are out feeding; drive it with 

 some force into the webs and clusters of the 

 enemy. Many caterpillars will be knocked 

 down, and to prevent their crawling up the 

 trunks again, bands of cart grease or soft soap 

 may be tied round the base of the stem. Should 

 the above remedies have been neglected till the 

 caterpillars and webs have attained some size in 

 June, then a tarred cloth may be spread under 

 the trees and the webs with their contents pulled 

 down, with the hands if convenient, or with a 

 long pole furnished with a hook at the end, in 

 the case of standard trees. Many of the cater- 

 pillars will hang suspended from the branches 

 by threads, and must be switched down. Repeat 

 the remedy in a few days, in case any of the 

 enemy may have escaped. Webs and cocoons 

 may be collected about the end of June. After 



this the trees may be plied with soap-suds from 

 the garden engine, to destroy or drive away the 

 perfect moths. 



Snowy Fly (Aleyrodes vaporariorum). — This 

 diminutive, white, four-winged fly is closely allied 

 to the aphides and scale-insects, and 

 belongs to the same genus as the Cab- 

 bage Powdered-wing (which see), for 

 the habit is precisely similar. It differs 

 from the latter by the absence of spots 

 from the wings. The larvae infest the 

 leaves of Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Ferns, 

 and other hothouse plants. In less than 

 a fortnight they reach the pupa stage 

 under a small white scale, and in a few 

 more days change to the perfect state, 

 and may be seen in white clouds when 

 disturbed. 



Remedies. — Measures must be taken to 

 destroy the pest before the individuals 

 get very numerous, otherwise the leaves 

 of affected plants get filthy with white 

 scales and black with excrement, espe- 

 cially in the case of Tomatoes. Fumiga- 

 tion and frequent syringings with strong 

 soap-suds or tobacco-water will destroy 

 the fly, but has no effect upon the larvae 

 and pupae under the scales, so that 

 fresh broods are forthcoming every few days. 

 The tobacco-water, if persisted in, should, how- 

 ever, serve to prevent the females laying their 

 eggs upon the leaves. Kerosene emulsion, made 

 as prescribed for Scale Insects, would be more 

 effective. To 1 gallon of the emulsion add 15 to 

 20 gallons of water according to the delicacy of 

 the foliage to be operated upon, and use in the 

 form of a light spray to the under surface of 

 the leaves. This should be commenced on the 

 first appearance of the pest, and repeated till the 

 latter is exterminated. Avoid spraying the 

 fruits of Tomatoes as far as possible. 



Spittle - fly (Aphrophora spumaria). — The 

 perfect fly is of various shades of gray or dull- 

 brown, and has two pairs of wings, the front 

 ones of which are darker in colour, and variously 

 ornamented with brown spots. From its shape 

 and its powers of jumping, it is known as the 

 frog-hopper. The larva is similar in shape but 

 wingless, pale-green and yellow, thin-skinned, 

 tender, and obliged to live under a mass of 

 spittle-like froth of its own making; hence the 

 names of Cuckoo Spit-fly and Froth-fly. In all 

 stages the insect lives by inserting its beak in 

 the leaves and tender parts of plants, sucking 

 the juices of the same, thereb}^ often weakening 

 and injuring them. The larvae may be found 



