Separate Accounts have not been published. 135 



June 15, 1819. A Paper on the destruction of the Moths 

 and Caterpillars of the Phalcena brumata of Linneus, by Mr. 

 Ransleben, of Berlin, a Foreign Corresponding Member 

 of the Society, was read. This is the insect which annually 

 destroys a great quantity of the blossom of all kinds of fruit 

 trees ; the caterpillars are about half an inch in length, and 

 of a green colour. As soon as they attain their full growth, 

 which is about Midsummer, they descend to the ground, 

 and working themselves either into it, or into the crevices of 

 the bark of the tree near the root, are changed into chrysa- 

 lides ; their metamorphosis into moths takes place between 

 the end of October and Christmas, at which time vast num- 

 bers may be seen in a mild day about the roots of the trees. 

 The females are nearly apterous, as the little feeble wing whioh 

 they possess hardly deserves that name, and does not enable 

 them to fly. From this circumstance arises the means of 

 their destruction, or at least of their great diminution. As 

 soon as the female is ready to lay, she ascends the stem 

 of the tree, endeavouring to creep up to the branches, on 

 which she may deposit her eggs. To interrupt her in her as- 

 cent, Mr. Ransleben recommends, from experience of its 

 efficacy, the besmearing about four or five inches of the 

 trunk of the tree, all round, and near the bottom, with tar, 

 which being renewed daily, or as often as it becomes dry, 

 catches the insect in her progress, and thus multitudes are 

 destroyed. Mr. Ransleben further recommends, that as 

 soon as the caterpillars are observed in the summer on the 

 trees, that their branches be well shaken, the insects will then 

 fall to the ground, on which they may be easily destroyed. 

 Mr. Mac Leay, to whom the consideration of this commu- 



