Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-09-09
TWO ENEMIES OF TREES.
WHITE MARKED TUSSOCK AND
M0TH-FALL WEB WORM.

Recently notices have occurred IN your
| paper OF the numbers OF noxious and
| poisonous caterpillars which are becom-
| ing rather abundant in This section, and
| as they have reached the wandering
age" very annoying.
| These caterpillars, il examined, will be
seen 10 consist Of two distinct species-a
conspicuous yellow one with (fuil grown)
TWO large black flimsy tufts at the head
| and one at the abdominal end OF the
body and four brush like yellowish tufts on
the first tour abdominal segments; head
| red. body hairy, marked ooTsad with a
broad black median line.
The other lives in large and disagree
able looking web, and is usually yellow
green, marked dorsad with many black
| dots, although the color and markings
vary according TO the food plant. It's
body is very hairy, and generally, when
violently disturbed, the caterpillar will
| suspend itself by sllken thread, as is
| also the case OF the one described above.
| Having distinguished the two, we will
| now give them names. The first one
| described is the larva OF the white
marked Tussock-moth (Orgza lencor-
,igma and A J, and Is probably the
same as the green saddle-back" men
lione in your Friday nights issue.
This larva is armed with many minute
| ly harbed hairs, and when crawling over
| a person, especially a perspiIing one,
these are capable OF producing a great
| deal of irritation and even Inflammation.
| OF course this is not usually dangerous,
| but in extreme cases il might possibly
| produce blood poison. The cateTpllIars
| iced gTeedily on the following trees -
| Poplars, naples, elms, alders. bmches,
| willows, locust, elder, ash, catalpa, horse
| chestnut, sycamore, mulberry, and be-
| sides all the fruits and some OF our garden
I and ornamental p.ants-as the rose. Ii
occurs in all states bordering the Atlantic.
| The second described caterpillar is
commonly called the "iall web-worm"
| (Hyphantia cunea Drury) because, al
| though appearing in the spring, it does
| not become noticeable until early fall,
when, as is the case in this city, it covers
the trees with its unsightly and ugly web.
| This also feeds on great variety OF trees,
! as the following /: PeTsmmon, pear, will
low, mulberry, chestnut, Norwegian pop
lar, wild grape, mock orange, English
walnut, cherry, apricot, apple, European
linden or Eastwood. white poplar, horse
chestnut, sugar maple. lilac, catalpa,
trumpet vine, plum, beach, sycamore,
tulip poplar, white maple, silver maple,
locust, and a great many others which
| have not noted as yet. 1t is found
throughout the United States.
Life history of the Tussoch Moth and
| remedies-This insect passes the winter
in the egg state, which are laid in the
latter part OF September. The caterpil-
lars have just begun TO pupate here, and
will begin TO emerge as moths in about
two weeks. The egg moss is glisten-
ing white mass attached to the old cocoon
OF the female. and owing to its promi-
| uence may easily be detected. The eggs
match in early spring (April) into minute
| caterl lllars, which, after molting FIVE
lines in the course OF a month or so,
urn TO pupal in fiimsy grayish cocoon
| uf silk, mixed with the hairs of their own
| bodies. The cocoons are placed under
| any convenient shelter, as under loose
bark, the undeTslde OF leaves, and in this
| generation under ainspouts along houses.
| under windows, etc. The pupal stage
lasts from ten to fifteen days, according
TO climatic conditions.
| The female adult is apterous and per.
| fectly helpless, while the male presents
the unusual phenomenon of being wing
| ed and active, while the female is so de-
/ graded. IL is unnecessary to describe
| The adults in this article. as the female,
| OF great importance. may easily be de-
tected by the habit she has OF clinging to
IT'S old cocoon while waiting the approach
of male. After capulation the females
lay their numerous eggs as described
/ above, and Immediately dies. There are
three remedies to be used against these
| insects, viz: collection and dt struction OF
| eggs during the winter months, spraying
with arsenicals and banding trees. The
| first must be thorough and consist of de-
stroying as many Of the conspicuous egg
masses as possible, either by crushing or
| by using creosote and turpentine. The
/ spraying must be done in the early spring
/ against the larvae OF the fiist brood. Full
| directions may be found in any of the bull
le,ins of the Department of Agriculture.
Banding is practiced with success with
this insect. in the case of uninfested trees.
A broad thick strip OF raw cotton tied
around the trunk with string is the best.
Ii will prevent the spierous female from
climbing and also the migrating larvae.
| would suggest preventative which
could be practiced at present. or little
later, with great success if done in unison.
The cateTpillars are just about spinning
their cocoons, mostly near the ground
These could easily be gathered by chill
dren at nominal price, say FIVE cents
| per pint or quart. and destroyed. There
! are possibly three broods of cateFpilIars
in this county. This insect passes the
winter as pupal in a cocoon attached
TO tree boxes, fences, ETC., coming forth
| as white moth in the spring and laying
clusters of from 400 to 600 eggs upon
either the upper or under surface of the
leaves. The caterpillars are gregarious
and each colony spins web which is
gradually spread as food is required.
When full grown the larvae crawl down
the tree and spin their cocoons.
There are two broods. the second ap-
| pearing in August Where only one
brooded. as in the Northern states, this
| insect is not injurious. as the second
| brood does the mischief. The remedies
TO be used against this insect are entirely
| different from those of the Tussock Moth.
Spraying and collection OF the cocoons
are OF use as remedies, but the chief one
is the destruction OF the webs when first