Middletown transcript., 1907-02-16
THREE INSECT PESTS

open 10 dttack, anu HUE WOTk cone a
this time Of year or early in the sprini
will yield large reiurns another season
They are commonly known as the Apple
tree Tent Caterpillar, whitemarked Tus
sock Moth, and Bag-worm, and will bs
briefly considered in the order named
AS We are at the present time conserned
only with their destruction in the egg
stage, no detailed description of the other
stages will be given. The main point is
to be able to locate and recognize the egg.
masses, in order they may be destoryed.
The caterpillars are only too we'll known
by most persons interested in rural life.
The AppIe-tres Tent Caterpillar
The egg-masses OF this Insect, as the
name indicates, are more commonly
found upon tile apple tree, and when
once seen will always be readily recog-
nized. They are ring-like clusters. usually
about half an inchin length, and third
of an inch in diameter. which ordinarily
encircIe, or nearly surround the smaller
twigs.
They present the appearance of dark
waxy mass, covered with sort Of yarnish.
If these marses are carefully examined
they will be seen to be composed of a
large number, usually two or three hum
dred,o eggs, closely cemented together.
These masses have been on the trees
since last summer, and as soon as the buds
begin to open next spring the caterpillars
will begin to emerge and feed upon the
leaves. As will be readily seen, the de-
structions Of one Of these egg-masses may
save tree from the rayages OF two or
three hundred of the large, hairy CATER
pillars, which render our trees u. eie hi.
by the destruction Of foliage, and the
large tents which they construct.
The White-Marked Tussock Moth
The egg-nasses OF this species are to
be found on large number of fruit and
shade trees, especially the plum, apple,
pear and cherry, smoung the former, and
tile mapel, popular, linden, willow and
horse-chestnnt amoung the latter. They
may be found on both trunks and BRAN
ches, and when in the latter position
is usually marked by the resence of one
or more dead leaves. The egg-masaes,
which are whitish and look as though
covered with a sort OF frosting.are usually
attached to the cocoon, from which the
moth that deposited the eggs emerged.
One OF these masses usually contains from
three to i've hundred eggs, closely cement
cd together and spread irregulary over
the cocoon. The msiority Of these eggs
hatch ia May, but few of the larvae may
emerge the latter part of April. When
full grown they are very pretty creatures,
with bright red heads and yellow bodies.
They have two long black plumes proiec-
ting toward, one en- each side OF the head
and another plume projecting backward
at the posterior end Of the body. On the
back, Just back of the head are four cream
colored, brush-like tufts.
There are two broods of this insect in
Delaware, and the egg-masses from which
the second brood energes may be found
about midsummer. These should also
be destroyed, but it is not as easy a mat
ter to locate.tiiern at that time of year as
now, since many will be concealed by the
foliage.
The Bag Worm
Unlike the two preceding forms the
egg.massss of this species are not exposed
70 the action Of the weather, but are con-
tanned within the curious, weather-beaten
bags which are so often seen at this time
iof year hanging in our trees and hedges.
Like the Tussock Moth, this species
has large number Of food plants, attack
| ing both fruit and shade trees. Among
the former may be mentioned the ounce
apple, pear, plum, cherry and peach, and
among the latter the elm, maple, locust,
linden, Norway spruce and red cedar.
rhe caterpillars are especially destruc-
tive to arbor-yitae hedges.
The bags are such common objects that
detailed description of them seems
hardly necessary here. They are spindle
or cone-shaped, and are formed Of silk,
being studded with bits of sticks and
leaves. They are ordinarily about an
inch in length aud swing freely, being
suspended at one end only. II these
bags are cut open, some, the smaller
ones, will be found to be empty, but the
maj1rity will be found to contain mass
Of yellow, fluffy material, imbedded in
which are large number of eggs. The
smaller. empty bags sheltered the male
caterpillars last summer, aud from them
the male moths emerged later. After
pairing with the females the males died,
as did the females after their eggs were
deposited. Tie females, when full grown
are helpless, wingess creatures, which
never leave their cases until their eggs
are deposited. Then they make their
way out Of the bags, fall to the ground
and die. In she spring the eggs hatch,
and tile little caterpillars emerge from
their bags and begin to feed, at the same
time constructing cases for themselves.
These are made OF leaf fragments held
together by means Of silken threads.
They are voracious creatures, and destroy
large quantities OF foliage. This is espec
tally noticeable in arbor vitae hedges
and many fine hedges in this State have
been killed by them. A little time given
TO the collection and destruction of These
sgg-cases at this time of year may save
your hedges from destruction another
season.
C. o. HoUaHTos,
Entomologist to Delaware Experiment
4 Station.
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