Page J (5 



BETTER FRUIT 



March 



borne upon the back, in line, behind the 

 head, while the remainder of the back is 

 decorated with a broad, velvety deep 

 black stripe. 



These caterpillars are hatched in late 

 May from eggs laid during the preceding- 

 summer in conspicuous masses on the 

 cocoons from which the mature females 

 have emerged. From one hundred to 

 five hundred eggs make up each mass, 

 held together by a white foam-like sub- 

 stance, which makes the mass quite con- 

 spicuous. Collection and destruction of 

 these masses is one of the most effective 

 methods of checking the increase of the 

 insect. 



The caterpillars are very small and 

 inconspicuous at first and feed in pro- 

 tected places, on the undersides of the 

 leaves and on interior leaves, as already 

 mentioned, so they may long escape 

 attention, though present in considerable 

 numbers. Females molt four times and 

 the males five, and in from twenty-five to 

 thirty, or more, days spin very thin 

 cocoons, from which the perfect insects 

 emerge in ten to fifteen days. 



The male moth is rather attractive, 

 with prominent feather-like antennae, or 

 "feelers," large legs and large, broad 

 wings, brown in color, with delicate gray 

 markings. The female is a wingless, 

 whitish-gray grub-like insect, with a 

 sack-like abdomen. The legs and anten- 

 nae are slender, quite unlike those of the 

 male. Natural enemies usually keep the 

 tussock moth in check. Many kinds of 

 birds feed upon both caterpillars and 

 mature females, and have usually held 

 the insect to normal numbers except in 

 cities, where destruction of birds and 

 unfavorable conditions for them have left 

 the insects to increase unhindered except 

 by parasite foes. Fortunately there are 

 several of these, the most effective being 

 two species of wasp-like flies. Flies of 

 other species are found less frequently. 

 The vast debt fruit growers owe to such 

 parasitic friends is shown by the fact that 

 in some localities where the caterpillars 

 have done much damage ninety-five per 

 cent of the cocoons examined were found 

 to contain eggs of some other insect 

 which would ultimately destroy the host. 



If the cocoons are collected, which is 

 one repressive measure, they should not 

 be destroyed, which would also kill the 

 helpful parasites, but should be placed 

 in a box or barrel covered with wire net- 

 ting, through which the moths - cannot 

 escape but the parasites can. 



CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRY FRUIT WORM 

 a, Worm; b, Moth; c, Gooseberries webbed together. 

 Original. Drawing by Miss M. A. Palmer 

 Colorado Experiment Station 



The tussock moth spreads largely by 

 migration of the caterpillars, so that 

 banding unaffected trees is an admirable 

 preventive measure. Sticky fly paper 

 may be used for this purpose, or a band 

 of raw cotton tightly fastened about the 

 tree by a string at the middle of the 

 band, leaving the cotton loose both 

 above and below the string. The loose 

 fibers thus entangle and stop the larvae. 

 Banding may also be used even where 

 trees have been attacked, for the cater- 

 pillars drop to the end of a thread when 

 the tree or branch is smartly jarred. 

 They can then be caught in a curculio 

 catcher or on sheets and destroyed, and 

 the bands will prevent the coming of a 

 new supply. 



The egg masses are very conspicuous, 

 as they are usually placed on the old 

 cocoons, and form white clusters an inch 

 to an inch and a half long. They are 

 usually found on the trunks and larger 

 branches of the trees, and can be easily 

 scraped off with a hoe or similar sharp 

 tool. They should be burned. The 

 smaller branches should also be exam- 

 ined, and especially any peculiar looking 

 bunches of dry leaves, for the cocoon is 

 frequently attached to several leaves. 

 This work may be done any time in 

 winter or spring, before the first of May. 

 In the southern part of the state, par- 

 ticularly on Long Island, a summer col- 

 lection of egg masses should also be 

 made, as the insect here has two broods 

 a year. 



But the main reliance, in orchards, 

 should be placed on spraying with bor- 

 deaux and poison. This is a treatment 

 which should be made anyway for scab 

 and codling moth, and to control the tus- 

 sock moth requires only more thorough 

 work, giving attention to the undersides 

 of the leaves, the growing fruits and to 

 foliage in the interior of the trees, par- 

 ticularly on water sprouts. In cities, on 

 shade trees, natural enemies, banding and 

 collecting cocoons and egg masses must 

 be depended on by the private individual, 

 though it may often be necessary to 

 employ sprays. To do this effectually 

 requires powerful machinery and experi- 

 enced help, which the city may best 

 provide. 



LARVA OF TUSSOCK MOTH AND ITS WORK 



