Insects Attacking the Pecan 175 



The caterpillars of this species, however, feed in mass but 

 form no web. The larvae molt several times and pnpate in 

 the soil, where they spend the winter in the pupal state. 

 The adult moths emerge from the overwintering pupae in 

 early summer. There are two generations each year, and it 

 is the second generation of larvae that usually appears in 

 such large numbers. 



Control. 



As the larvae appear in large numbers, the trees 

 should be sprayed with arsenate of lead. Plowing the soil 

 after the larvae have pupated will destroy many of them. 



TWIG-GIRDLER 



(Oncideres cingulatus, Say.) 

 The twig-girdler has a fondness for the hickory and persim- 

 mon as well as for the pecan. It has a very broad distribu- 

 tion, being found practically all over the pecan belt. The 

 female beetle first girdles the twig from one to two feet from 

 the terminal end, then deposits the eggs in small punctures in 

 the bark just below the leaf -scars on the twig. This is done in 

 late August and in September. The girdled twig soon dies and 

 is likely to be blown to the ground by the wind very soon 

 afterward. This girdling seems to be for the purpose of 

 killing the twig and preventing the egg being crushed by the 

 growing tissue and also to provide more suitable food for 

 the larvee. The eggs hatch about four weeks after being 

 laid, and the young larvae begin feeding just under the bark 

 of the girdled twig. They continue feeding during the warmer 

 periods of weather in winter and remain in the larval stage 

 until the following August, at which time they pass through 



