The Pith Moth . 71 
if broken off will be found to contain the Pith Moth caterpillar or 
pupa, usually situated near the apex of a shoot. 
The larva (g) is dull reddish-brown with a deep brown head and 
first segment ; the other segments show more or less traces of pale 
brown spots four in a row on the second and third segments and 
four placed in a quadrangle on the remaining segments. The two 
anterior segments have two lateral spots and the remainder a single 
lateral spot. The apex is deep brown. When mature they reach one- 
third of an inch in length and then pupate near the apex of the shoot 
they have tunnelled. They reach their full-fed stage during the last 
two weeks in June. If the dead shoots are picked off, the moth can 
be easily bred. 
The pupa (d) is of an ochraceous hue ; the head and front of the 
thorax and tip of the body mahogany red. It is cylindrical in form 
and about one-fourth of an inch long. On the ventral surface of the 
penultimate segment are two blunt processes separate and diverging 
outwards, hairy at their apices (Fig. 7, c ) ; the eyes are black and the 
wing cases and legs long, the former pointed. This stage lasts from 
two to three weeks, the moths emerging from the end of June into 
July. The pup® may sometimes be seen projecting from the dead 
shoot. Stainton says the larvae also occur in hawthorn berries in 
September and that the black variety only is found in apple shoots 
in February and March. 
Preventive Measures. 
It is quite obvious that there can be no remedy for this pest, but 
we can do much in the way of prevention by hand-picking the dead 
shoots before the moths emerge in June. This can only be done, of 
course, where small trees are attacked, and it usually happens that it 
is only on such trees that the attack takes place. 
Late spraying with Paris green would probably prove beneficial, 
as it would kill the young larvae, which seem to feed first of all on 
the leaves. Of course, care must be taken in regard to the fruit. 
The trees should be washed not less than four weeks before the fruit is 
gathered, but as soon as it is harvested a heavy spraying may be given. 
The time to spray therefore must depend on the variety of apple 
concerned. This is certainly worth giving a fair trial, as beyond 
hand-picking we can do nothing to check the increase of this pest, so 
noticeable during the past few years. 
