522 



The Red Bud-Caterpillar. 



there about in the garden to attract any stray beetles to deposit 

 their eggs. These heaps can be examined in the winter and all 

 the grubs burnt. 



The Red Bud-Caterpillar. 



(Hedya oecallana. Tr.) 



Several lepidopterous larvae inhabit the buds of fruit trees ; 

 the most abundant of these is one known as the Red Bud- 

 Caterpillar. The winter moth larvae also feed inside the buds 

 of fruit trees to some extent, but not until the buds are quite 

 ready to burst. 



The Red Bud-Caterpillar is found on all fruit trees, but prefers 

 the apple, plum, and cherry. The moth is found flying about 

 the trees in May, June, and July, and deposits its eggs on 

 the leaves. It is about one-half of an inch across the 

 expanded wings. The fore wings are grey, with a broad 

 white transverse band studded with grey spots across the 

 middle from one edge to the other. The larvae hatch in 

 the summer and feed upon the leaves, and pass the winter 

 in little cases on the trees. In the spring they enter the buds 

 and leaf-tufts. When full grown they pupate amongst the 

 dead buds or amongst the leaves near. From the pupae 

 the moths may make their appearance during the end of May, 

 but usually in June and July. It is particularly destructive 

 in nursery stock, for it is usually the terminal buds that are 

 attacked, and so the leading shoots are destroyed and the 

 tree becomes deformed. 



Prevention. — Trees that have been previously attacked should 

 be well sprayed in the autumn, and prior to the buds bursting 

 in the spring, with Paris green or arsenate of lead. Most of 

 the larvae would then be destroyed by eating the poison either 

 in the leafage or in making their way into the buds. 



Several other Tortrices also live in their larval stage inside 

 the buds of various fruit trees and bushes, but do nothing like 

 the harm caused by the one dealt with here. 



