Large White Butterfly. 



4^3 



remedied by spraying with Paris Green solutions, in the pro- 

 portion of I lb. of Paris Green to 150 gallons of water. The 

 objection to this treatment is the possibility that the 

 cabbages and other plants intended for the food of man or 

 beast might retain the poison, though the Americans 

 use Paris Green freely upon this and many other kinds of 

 food plants. 



Fortunately, heavy showers and wet weather check the 

 progress of these caterpillars. There are, besides, several 

 parasites, the larvae of species of the IcJmeuinonidcE, which feed 

 upon the caterpillars and chrysalids. The larvae of one of 

 these, termed Apanteles glo?neratus, are very destructive to 

 the caterpillars in some seasons, devouring the contents of 

 their bodies and filling them with groups of yellow 

 cocoons. Another larger species of Ichneumon fly lays an 

 egg in the chrysalids of this butterfly, and thus destroys its 

 vitality. Birds are also most useful in reducing the numbers 

 of this insect. Titmice carry ofl" the larvae to their young, 

 and with their sharp eyes detect the chrysalids in their winter- 

 quarters, and quickly destroy them. The hedge-sparrow 

 [Accentor modular is) takes these caterpillars in their early 

 stages, and the blackbird and starling clear them off with 

 avidity. 



