Evening journal., 1907-02-09
INSECT AS
REAL PESTS
Delaware College Issues In
StruCtiOns Telling How to
Exterminate Them

l the tAAtiNAAhhlANll VI ANcttl pests Alt
authorities OF Delaware College re-
quest publication OF the following
Three of our more destructive insect
pests. which at the present time are
/ represented only in the egg stage, are
now open to attack. and a little work
done at this time of year or early in
the spring will yiel dlarge returns an
other season. They are commonly
known as the Apple tree Tent Cater
pillar white marked Tussock Moth
an dBag-worm. and will be briefly con-
sidered in the order named. AS we
are at the present time concerned only
with their destruction in the egg Stage.
no detailed description OF the other
stages viii be given. The main point
is to be able to locate and recognize
the egg masses, in order that they may
be destroyed The caterpillars are
only too well known by most persons
interested in rural life.
The Apple Tree Tent Caterpillar.
The egg-masses Of this insect, as the
name indicates. are more commonly
found upon the apple tree, and when
once seen will always be readily
recognized. They are ring-like clust-
ers. usually about half an inch in
length, and a third Of an inch IN dia-
meter, which ordinarily encircle. o.
nearly surround the smaller twigs.
They present the appearance Of a dark
waxy mass. covered with sort OF
varnish. II these masses are carefully
examined, they win be seen TO be com.
posed OF a large number. usually tw-
or three hundred, Of eggs, closely ce-
= mented together.
These masses have beer, on the trees
S since last summer, and as soon as the
buds begin 10 open next spring the
caterpillars viii begin to emerge an
/ feed upon the tender leaves. AS will
be readily seen, the destruction Of one
% Of these egg-masses may save a tree
e from the ravages of two or three hun-
, dred of the large. hairy caterplllars
e which render our trees unsightly by
the destruction Of foliage, and thC
C large tents" which they construct.
. THE White-marked Tussock Moth.
e. The egg masses OF this species ar,
C to be found on a large number Of frui
and shade trees, especially the plum
p apple. pear and cherry, among the for.
p mer, and the maple. poplar, linden
e willow and horse chestnut among th'
e latter. They may be found on boti
trunks and branches, and when in th'
= latter position their position is usually
marked by the presence Of one or more
= dead leaves. The egg -masses, whici
d are whitish and look as though COW
cred with a sort OF frosting, are usual,
attached to the cocoon from which III,
moth deposited the eggs emerged. on
OF these masses usually contains from
, three to five hundred eggs, closely ce
!, / mented together, and spread irregular
!, ly over the cocoon. The majority o
!, these eggs hatch in May, but a few o
{, the larvae may emerge sthe latter par
Of April When full grown they ar
very pretty creatures. with bright re-
heads and yellow bodies. They hav
two long black pluues prof jecting for
q ward, one on each side Of the head an
: another plume projecting backward a
the posterior end of the body. O
the back. just back Of the head, ar
four cream -colored. brush-lilze tufts
There are two broods Of this insec
in Delaware. and the egg-masscs fror
i. which the second brood emerges ma
u be found about midsummer Thes
should also be destroyed, but it is no
p as easy a matter to locate them M tha
time Of year as now. since many wi
be concealed by the foliage.
Tho Bag Worm.
l,s Unlike the two preceding forms III
egg-masses Of this species are not ex
posed to the action OF the weather, bu
are contained within the curious
~ weather-beaten bags which are s
often seen at this time Of year hang
- ing in our trees and hedges.
ln Like the Tussock Moth this specie
{ has a large number Of food plants, at
ul tacking both fruit and shade tree
Among the former may be mentione
IS the ounce apple. pear plum, cherr
a. and peach, and among the latter th
at elm, maple. locust linden, Norwa
n spruce and red cedar. The caterpillar
is are especially destructive TO arbol
is vitae hedges.
ist The bags ares uch common object
al that a detailed description OF thei
i'll seems hardly necessary here. The
ct are spindle or cone-shaped. and al
rs formed of silk being studded wit
"a bits of sticks and leaves. They al
~ ordinarily about an inch in length an
y swing freely. being suspended at or
end only. If these bags are cut ope
some, the smaller ones, will be fouu
to be empty. but the majority will
found to contain a mass of yello'
- fluffy material, imbedded In which a
~ a large number of eggs. The smalle
empty bags sheltered the male cate
/" pillars last summer and from the
the male moths emerged later Afti
hu pairing with the females the male
died, as did the females after the
ur eggs were deposited. The female
TX when full grown, are helpless. wingle
Die creatures which never leave the
an cases until their eggs are deposite
re- Then they make their way out of q
TO bags, fall to the ground and die.
ne the spring the eggs hatch, and the Ii
'll tie caterpillars emerge from their bal
ou and begin TO feed. at the same tin
an constructing cases for themselve
nj. These are made of leaf fragments he
together by means OF silken thread
I've They are voracious creatures, and d
nd stroy large quantities of foliage. TIL
uy is especially noticeable In anbor-vit.
hedges. and many fine hedges in IN
.- State have been killed by them.
in little time given to the collection al
TO destruction OF these egg-cases at tn
-st time of year may save your hedg
from destruction another season.
do c. o. Houghton,
Entomologist to Delaware Experime
49, station.