THE EUROPEAN PINE-SHOOT MOTH. 5 
taken place, and the indications are very strong that the pest has be- 
come established in several other widely distributed localities, either 
by direct importation from Europe or by distribution from infested 
American nurseries. This is particularly to be suspected of locali- 
ties where large importations and plantings of European pines have 
been made. 
As yet the pest has been found only in nurseries and private parks 
supplied by these infested nurseries. In no case has it j^et been 
found on, forest trees in America. The species is therefore at present 
mainly a nursery problem in this country and consequently may yet 
be controlled and possibly even eliminated by proper measures under 
Federal and State supervision. That this condition can not long 
endure and that the pest, if not checked, will soon multiply and 
spread to native pines outside of nurseries and pass beyond the pos- 
sibility of elimination is clearly indicated by all the evidence on 
hand. 
LIFE HISTORY. 
In Europe the moths (PI. II, upper figure) issue in July, some- 
times as early as the end of June, and in the warm evenings they 
swarm around the pines in large numbers. During the day they sit 
quietly on the branches, as can be ascertained by giving the tree a 
sharp jolt, which will cause the moths to fly out. When the insect sits 
still on the food plant it is not easily discovered, for the apparently 
striking orange-red color blends well with the natural surroundings 
and therefore must be classed as a protective coloration. Early in 
August the eggs are laid singly on the new buds for next year's 
growth, the terminal cluster of buds being nearly always chosen for 
oviposition. The young larva soon hatches and eats its way into the 
bud, making itself a roomy cell by devouring the live inside part. It 
attains a length of only a few millimeters during the fall months, and 
overwinters within the hollow bud. At this stage its presence is 
easily overlooked, though a trained eye will discover a small exuda- 
tion of pitch over the entrance hole differing from the normal exuda- 
tion of the buds. (See PL III.) 
In May, as soon as the sap begins to rise in the trees, the larva 
the buds. (See PL III.) 
leaves its winter quarters and bores into the bud next thereto, in 
turn destroying this and as many others as it needs for food. As 
the remaining buds adjoining begin to grow into young shoots the 
larva attacks them. It eats the entire inside of the youngest shoots 
and these consequently die. The more developed shoots are injured 
only on one side, and these sometimes continue to grow, but are bent 
downward at the injured spot. The larva (PL II, lower figure) feeds 
only on the soft growth on which the needles have not yet appeared, 
and by the time the needles have developed all, or nearly all, of the 
shoots in the infested cluster have become dead or injured. The 
