60 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE. 



Since the female is wingless^ and invariably attaches her 

 eggs to the outside of her own cocoon, the insect can only 

 spread by the wanderings of the caterpillars, or the careless 

 introduction of eggs on young trees. No doubt the latter 

 has been the most prolific source of mischief. Although 

 not usually very injurious, it becomes at times a perfect pest 

 to the fruit-grower, stripping the trees almost bare of leaves 

 and disfiguring the fruit by gnawing its surface. While 

 very partial to the apple, it attacks also the plum and pear, 

 and is said to feed occasionally on the elm, maple, horse-chest- 

 nut, and oak. 



Remedies, — The increase of this insect may be easily pre- 

 vented by collecting and destroying the eggs during the win- 

 ter months. In gathering the cocoons, all those having no 

 egg-masses attached should be left, as they contain either the 

 empty chrysalids of the male or the chrysalids of parasites. 

 Nine different species of flies, four-winged and two- winged, 

 are known to be parasitic on this insect in the caterpillar state. 



No. 23. — The Yellow-necked Apple-tree Caterpillar. 



Datana ministra (Drury). 



The moth of this species was first described by Mr. Drury, 

 an eminent English entomologist, in 1773, from specimens 



received by him from New 

 York. It measures, when 

 its wings are expanded, 

 about two inches across 

 (see Fig. 54), and is of a 

 /^■5^jf '^1^^^^^^-^^ light- brown color, with the 

 ' ' '"^ " "*' head and a large spot on 



the thorax chestnut-brown. 

 On the fore wings there are 

 from three to ^ve transverse brown lines, one or two spots 

 near the middle (sometimes wanting), and the outer margin 

 also of the same color. The hind wings are pale yellow, 

 without markings. When in repose, the hinder part of its 



