13 



perceive that the latter is a very different insect from the two 

 moths described by Dr. Fitch. 



Respectfully, your friend and serv't, 



THADDEUS WILLIAM HARRIS. 



THE PALMER WORM. 



By Db. TbAddios William Harris. 



During the month of June, a small worm, or naked caterpillar, 

 has been observed on apple trees, in large numbers, throughout 

 the greater part of New-England, and in the valley of the Hud- 

 son, in New- York. By some persons it was thought to be a new 

 comer ; and by others was mistaken for a second generation of 

 the canker worm, which disappeared about the time that these 

 smaller insects began their ravages. This, however, is by no 

 means the first visitation of the insect in such unwelcome and 

 destructive profusion. As long ago as the year 1791, it prevailed 

 through many parts of New-England, during the mouth of June, 

 and at that tiiiic received the name of the Palmer worm. Some 

 account of its ravages in orchards, and even among forest trees, 

 at that date, may be found under the head of in^eds, in the second 

 edition of Dr. Deane's "New-England Farmer and Georgical 

 Dictionary." 



Communications concerning this insect, several of them accom- 

 panied by specimens, have been sent to me from Bradford, Ando- 

 ver, and Westlbrd, Mass.; from New Boston and Keene, New- 

 Hampshire; from New Haven and Salisbury, Conn.; and from 

 Providence, R. I. Apple, cherry and plum trees in my own gar- 

 den, also afforded me a few of the same insects, which were first 

 observed there about the 10th of June. Within the past three 

 weeks, numerous accounts of this supposed new or hitherto un- 

 noticed depredator, have been published in all our agricultural 

 newspapers. In some places, orchards have suffered from these 

 insects in the same way and to as great an extent as from the 

 ravages of canker worms ; and in some cases, not only the leaves, 

 but the young fruit has been destroyed by them. 



