There is a species of Cincindella, or tiger-beetle, which I have seen running over the leaves of box-elder trees in quest of young larvæ, and perhaps it may be of some benefit to treegrowers in a quiet way. It is a very interesting sight to see the beetles steal up upon the unsuspecting caterpillar and seize it before it had a chance to drop. Other cannibal insects, socalled, prey upon the tussock moth, but their work is scarcely great enough to demand further

attention.

METHOD OF TRAVELING.

The caterpillars are solitary in their habits, and, though I have been once or twice given to understand the contrary, I do not believe that they ever travel in swarms, as does the army worm or the white ant. Their main method of distribution must be the passive one of accidental egg-dissemination. Nurserymen are often careless in sending out their stock, and may allow cocoons, bearing eggs, to be shipped to new localities, thus introducing the moth. In a conservative way the larva is something of a wanderer, and through the summer may be seen moving leisurely along over fences, sidewalks, or upon the roadside. Singularly enough, the female seems to possess this instinct far more than the male, and while I have never met but a few of the males, I have scores of times fallen in with the females plodding placidly along. It would seem almost as if the male understood that ne might save useless labor by waiting for his wins-appendages denied his more progressively inclined spouse.

FOOD PLANTS.

I believe that Nebraska observers will bear me out in the statement that, over the eastern part of the state, the tussock moth prefers box-elder to any other tree. My own experience teaches me that I can find more cocoons upon these trees than upon apple, pear, plum, or rose-bush--the plants usually mentioned as favorites. Last winter I secured forty-one cocoons from a single box-elder not more than twelve feet in height, and I have never found more than twenty-two upon apple trees of similar size. This summer (1887), in company with Prof. Bessey and Dr. Gustavus Egeling, I found ten caterpillars on box-elder trees along a street in Fremont, and saw none on the apple trees, which were almost as abundant in bordering door-yards as the others.

Upon maple and plum the cocoons are especially abundant this season, although I have not noticed so many in years past.

The tussock moth does not confine its working to cultivated fruit trees, for I have found it feeding upon Prunus pennsylvanica (the choke-cherry) and upon Prunus chicasa (the wild plum), both times in the vicinity of Lincoln. However, it is but right to say that its presence on these trees is somewhat unusual, the apple and box-elder being its favorites.

REMEDIES.

In planting an orchard every intelligent fruit-grower should see that all seedlings are examined for egg-masses. Should cocoons be found without egg-masses, they should be preserved, as in no case is there a live tussock moth within, but frequently there are parasites. This is rather of the nature of a preventive than of a remedy, but the old adage about "the ounce of prevention" holds good here as elsewhere. To carefully examine every tree is not a difficult matter, and it should certainly be done, for it is almost sure protection.

However, if the young trees have been allowed to pass without inspection, the same remedy may be brought into use by searching the orchard or shade-row in the middle of winter. The dead leaves and egg-masses are conspicuous objects, and may be easily destroyed. A farmer should know that leaves always fall off in the winter (I am referring to deciduous trees), and when they obstinately stay on there must be some reason for it. Dead leaves should be classed as suspects," and destroy ed.

Another way to capture a fair number of tussock caterpillars is to jar the trees when they are fully leaved out in the spring: about the 10th of May is the proper time in normal seasons. By this time the young caterpillars have hatched, and can be prevailed upon to let themselves down by their silken threads, thus revealing their presence and making it an easy matter to kill them.

Still another way is to substitute burning coal-tar, held in a long-handled dipper among the branches, for the jarring. The smell induces the larvæ to let themselves down, in search of a purer atmosphere, I presume, and they can be captured as before.

Spraying trees with Paris green or London purple solution could do no harm, and would probably kill the greater number of infesting larvae. It should be applied three or four times during the season.

The methods of fighting the female. given for the plum curculio, would not work here. The female, in spite of the bad odor, wo ld attract the male, and having no option in choice of location, she would lay her eggs upon the cocoon, and the "remedy" would be worthless. By paying attention to the simple preventives mentioned above, no one should be troubled with the white-marked tussock moth. It is more easily cared for than the majority of harmful insects.

THE APPLE TENT-CATERPILLAR (Clisiocampa americana HARR.)

Harris' Ins. Inj. to Veg.; Riley's Insects of Mo., Vol. III.; Cook's Inj. Ins. of Mich., 1874.

Every apple-grower is familiar with the webs spun by caterpillars among the branches of his orchard trees, and pretty generally applies to such caterpillars the name at the head of this page. They are not so injurious as other apple pests, but if left alone are capable of doing great damage.

DESCRIPTION AND HABITS.

The eggs are deposited in May or June, and may be found upon the smaller twigs, forming barrel-shaped rings around them. The eggs are grayish, spherical, usually with one side pressed in-as one may press in the side of a rubber ball-and covered with a dull, glutinous secretion, protecting them from the wet. They remain during the autumn and winter, and at the first breath of spring the caterpillars emerge, ready for the campaign.

According to Prof. Riley, these caterpiliars are extremely hardy, and in case they accidentally hatch. before the tree has leafed out, they fast patiently until food is provided. They make their first meal from the egg-shells which produced them, and will also eat the glutinous secretion. They never feed upon bark,

As soon as they have left the eggs, the caterpillars begin to spin, and this habit they continue until passing into the pupa stage. They never move about without leaving a little silken thread as a "tra cer," and in a short time-for they are exceedingly gregarious-a large web is formed. This is of a cobwebby appearance, but stronger than spider's silk, and grows in size as the caterpillars grow. Often a single web will cover whole branches of a large tree, and under its protection the two hundred and fifty or more caterpillars will do serious damage,

The web is spun in obedience to an instinct-marvelous, as are all instincts -which teaches the caterpillars that community of action and ceaseless individual spinning will, at last, produce a covering strong enough to protect them from birds and predaceous insects.

When full-grown, these caterpillars are about two inches in length, sparsely clothed with long gray-black hairs, and spotted and striped with blue, black, white, and tawny-red. They are rather cleanly in their habits, and, when any part of their tent becomes obnoxiously befouled with their pellets of black excrement, they pass on to a nei. hboring twig, spinning as they go. The family is entirely harmonious, and has its reg ular meal hours with which all seem to be satisfied. They feed twice a day, in the forenoon and in the afternoon, After feeding from thirty-six to forty-eight days, the caterpillars become full-grown, having in this time passed through four moults, and leave the tent, scattering in all directions to find suitable p aces for their cocoons. They commonly select fence-corners, crevices in bark, or similarly sheltered places, and each one spins an oblong, oval, yellow cocoon, inside of which it sheds its larva-skin and becomes a pupa. This is reddish-brown and hairy. Some of the caterpillars usually prove to be timid, and spin their cocoons near the old web or even within it.

(Fig. 28.)

The Apple Tent-Caterpillar.

a and b Larvæ.

c Egg-cluster.

d Cocoon.

In about two weeks after pupation the moth comes forth and the round of life is completed. The female is a trifle larger and lighter than the male: they spread about one and three-fourths inches, and are of a pretty brown color, with two transverse whitish stripes on the fore wings,

The moths are attracted by light and by sweets, and may often be seen flying about the evening lamp in early summer. They take no nourish ment, it is stated; but I have occasionally caught them in molasses-traps set for night-flying species Their sole duty seems to be to provide for a new

brood of caterpillars, this done they soon die. The female lays about two hundred and fifty eggs, placing them all in one cluster. She be gins with the bottom row and stands head downward, walking slowly around the twig and placing her little globes with great regularity. As the successive tiers are placed she soon comes to walk over and upon the eggs of the first tiers, thus pushing and kicking any irregularly laid ones into shape. With the eggs is poured out the glutinous secretion which covers them, and protects them.

INSECT ENEMIES.

Chief among these is a chalcid fly, belonging to the same genus with one which parasitises upon the Hessian fly. I have often found chrysalides filled with the tiny maggots of these flies, and have noticed that such infested chrysalides are exceeding y common in those cocoons spun under the shelter of the old web-giving, it may be, a hint as to the sluggishness of some caterpillars while the majority are so active. On this point my observations have been too few to lay down a general rule, but such facts as I have obtained are, at least, significant. Pupæ containing these parasites never come to maturity, and by these means the tent-caterpillar is held in a certain check.

There are, moreover, many predatory insects which prey upon the caterpillars, but not para sitically. Among these are two species of plant-bugs aud a tiger-beetle (Ca, abides).

Birds also destroy a few of the caterpillars, tearing aside their webs for the purpose. The American cuckoos are said to be the only ones really serviceable, but unfortunately this genus is represented by but few individuals in Nebraska.

REMEDIES.

The Clisiocampa can be attacked in any one of its four stages.

(1.) In the winter examine trees for egg clusters: if any are found, remove and burn them. (2.) Destroy the tents as soon as they become conspicuous. This should be done when the Caterpillars are in the most compact form-not scattered for feeding-either at early morning or in the dusk of evening Lye may be used, or hot soap-suds, or kerosene, or fire. A very excellent way is to shoot the tents with a wadless gun. The powder may be held in place by a bit of paper, and by this means almost any farmer can kill more caterpillars in a forenoon than he could ducks in a life-time.

Since the caterpillars prefer wild cherry to any other tree, Dr. Fitch, as quoted by Prof. Riley, has suggested that a few of these trees planted in an orchard would attract the females, when about to lay eggs, and the tents could be destroyed more rapidly than if scattered over a whole orchard. This might be worth trying in serious cases.

Burning seems to be the favorite remedy in Nebraska, it having been recommended to me by Mr. Dinsmore, Mr. Woods, and other prominent horticulturists of the state.

(3.) Search for the cocoons, under loose bark and in the fences. When found, destroy them by crushing.

(4.) A trap may be made for the moths, as follows: Into the bottom of a large shallow pan pour about an inch of kerosene. In the middle of the pan set a block of wood, and upon this place a good, bright lantern. Set the whole affair on a stool in the orchard, and leave it over night. In the morning there will be a great many dead tent-caterpillar moths, as well as other species equally harmful. A cloudy, damp, "muggy" night is the best for the use of this contrivance. More moths are abroad on such nights than when the moon and stars are shining. Of all these remedies, the best and surest is the cherry-tree remedy. Dr. Fitch, who sugges ed it, had great confidence in it, and it is entirely scientific. If some enterprising Net raska fruit grower will try it, he will find it ample and satisfactory. Up to this time I have been unable in learn of any one's employing it in our state. There is no reason why fruit-growers should not, for the apple tent-caterpillar is exceedingly common, and ought to be restrained. It is easy to manage, and there is no surer way of recognizing a neglected orchard than by the presence of these unsightly webs.

THE FOREST TENT-CATERPILLAR.

Before leaving this subject, I should, perhaps, say a word upon another species of the same genus, the forest tent-caterpillar, or Clisiocampa sylvatica Harr., very similar to the one de scribed, but more injurious to shade trees-oak, maple, and black walnut. It also feeds upon the apple.

The two species are almost exactly alike in all their stages, differing, however, in the shape of the egg-clusters; barrel-shaped in americana, but cylindrical in sylvatica. The moth of sylvatica is a little lighter and more inclined to yellowish and ochreish colors than that of ameri cana. Otherwise the two insects are very similar. In habits they are almost exactly similar, and all remedies proposed for americana are satisfactory if applied to sylvatica, save only the cherry-tree remedy, This would be quite useless, for the forest-tent caterpillar has not the same predilection for cherry leaves that its relative has, and the female moth knows it, so she will never lay her eggs upon that tree in preference to oak, mapie, hickory, or walnut.

Both species of tent-caterpillar are abundant in Nebraska, although the apple-tree species is probably the most abundant. Both tend to vary in numbers, sometimes appearing in great numbers and again almost vanishing from notice on account of their scarcity. This variation is due to natural causes-the increase of enemies, etc., etc.

THE FALL WEB-WORM-(Hyphrantia Spilosoma textor HARR.)

ORDER LEPIDOTERA, FAMILY BOMBUCID.E.

Harr. Ins. Inj. to Veg.; Riley Mo. Rep., Vol. III.; LeBaron, 1st Ill. Rep.; Cook's Ins. Inj. in Mich., 1874.

One often hears that tent-caterpillars are doing much damage in the fall, and whenever such a statement is made, reference is probably had to the insect now under consideration, for the true caterpillar never appears in the fall, being at that season of the year securely locked up in its egg-clusters, The habits of the fall web-worm are so similar to those of the ten-caterpillars that the insects are often mistaken for one another by hasty observers. In reality, they are quite different, belonging to different genera and by no means alike in general appear

ance.

FOOD PLANTS.

The fall web-worm is of catholic tastes, feeding upon a great variety of fruit and shade trees. It is particularly damaging to the apple, ash, and box-elder, often completely defoliating the latter. It also appears on peach, pear, plum, hickory, oak, walnut,

and elm trees, besides a variety of shrubs-osage orange, lilac, or jessamine, and even upon some herbaceous plants, such as the sun-flower. For this last, Prof. Riley is authority. It has not, however, chanced to come under my observation.

HABITS AND DESCRIPTION.

Eggs are laid in clusters upon leaves near the end of branches, usually late in May or early in June. These hatch in June, July, or August, and even as late as the 1st of September, in the vicinity of Lincoln. As soon as it emerges from the shell the young larva begin to spin, and as a large number-one to three hundred-are born at once, by their united efforts the top of the leaf is soon covered with a glistening web. The young caterpillars are very fastidious, and eat only the pulpy part of the leaf, not deigning to touch the fibrous portions, which consequently remain a skeleton, brown and withered.

As they increase in size the caterpillars extend their web, covering other leaves and branches. They never venture from under it, but pursue their work of skeletonizing, protected by the silken canopy. They are strictly nocturnal in their habits.

When full-grown, the caterpillar is a little over an inch in length, sparsely clothed with very long yellowish hairs. The body is yellowish, with a dingy-gray stripe along the back. The head is black, and there are a great many orange-yellow warts upon the body, from most of which spring hairs. The hairs about the head and tail are usually a little longer than those intermediate.

In the fall these worms leave the web and find places to spin their cocoons. Sometimes they select localities similar to those affected by tent-caterpillars, but more often they burrow just below the surface of the ground, and there spin a delicate yellowish cocoon, in which the skin is shed and the pupa stage assumed. This is smooth, chestnut-brown in color, swollen in the middle, and round at the head end, while sharply pointed at the tail end. In this stage the insect passes the winter and appears as a moth late in May or early in June, thus completing the round of life.

The moth is often seen, and is a very pretty object. Its wings are spread about an inch and are spotless white, shaded almost imperceptibly with fulvous-red. Occasionally a specimen is seen with distinct fulvous blotches, but this is rare. These moths are often seen flying about

in the dewy grass or clover in early morning, and may occasionally be attracted to a molas-es trap at night.

In some cases there are two broods a year, but I have never seen evidences of more than one brood annually in the vicinity of Lincoln where I have studied the insect.

With regard to their fondness for the box-elder, one interesting fact may be noted. Dr. LeBaron states that he took nests of these worms and tied them upon maple trees, but that the caterpillars would not eat, and failed to mature. This is remarkable, for the box-elder and maple are very closely related, belonging to the same botanical family. It would seem that an insect which could stomach box-elder would not scornfully pass by the maple, but so far as my own observations go they only serve to corroborate those of Dr. LeBaron. Maple trees seem to enjoy freedom from the attacks of the web-worm, while box-elders are among the greatest

sufferers.

NATURAL ENEMIES.

I know of no parasite insect which attacks the web-worm, and as ingeniously conjectured by Dr. LeBaron, this seems to be an outcome of the nocturnal and retiring habits of the caterpillar I have since learned from Mr. L. O. Howard that certain unimportant parasites have lately been described. The parasites are not night prowlers, being mostly flies, either dipterous or hymenopterous, and thus miss the opportunity of laying their eggs upon the crafty larvæ.

There are, however, a number of predaceous insects which prey upon the adult moths, notably ground-beetles (Colosoma scrutator), dragon-flies, and a species of Asilus fly. Birds will gladly eat them, and I have often seen robins hopping about in the early morning, picking up the defenceless white moths and devouring them. I have also seen blue-birds eating them, and no doubt they are a prey to many others of the feathered tribe.

Toads and skunks-animals of very broad appetite-eat the web-worm moths, and there is a large ground-spider which pounces upon them with evident delight. However, the web-worm is comparatively exempt from insect or other animal attack, and, in Nebraska at least, seems to be decidedly on the increase.

REMEDIES.

The web-worm cannot be captured during the winter, as could the tent-caterpillar, for it is under ground and readily escapes observation. Neither are the egg-clusters sufficiently conspicuous to attract the eyes of any one, save a trained entomologist. Little can be done when the insect is in the moth state, for the individuals are too scattered and do not rally at sight of a lamp or smell of molasses. Hence we are compelled to take them during the larva stage. The webs are easily discovered and may be destroyed in any of the ways mentioned for the tent-caterpillar. Some recommend the application of London purple by sprinkling, but this is unnecessary, and really more troublesome than to remove the webs by hand, or by a long pole. When secured they may be trodden under foot or burned, whichever the operator may prefer. In the case of the web-worm it might be well to experiment with putrid whale-oil soap solution, and with the carbolic acid and kerosene emulsions. These should be applied to the trees in May, and at intervals thereafter until the middle of June. Napthaline, too, poured upon the ground beneath any tree or shrub which it is desired to protect is worth trying. According to the observations of Mr. Wm. B. Atwood, recorded in the Bull. No. 13 of the Dept. of Agriculture, pyrethrum is not a remedy to be recommended. Neither is lime-sprinkling, suggested to me by a Lancaster nurseryman. The web will prevent these applications from complete effectiveness, and it is best not to waste time with them. The crushing or burning is a specific and may be depended upon.

COMPARISON WITH THE TENT-CATERPILLAR.

The fall web-worm is so often mistaken for the tent-caterpillar that it may be instructive to mention in a few words the differences between the two insects. I quote from Prof. Riley, for his summary is terse and thorough.

"It (the web-worm) hibernates in the pupa state, they (the tent-caterpillars) in the egg state; its moth is pure white, theirs reddish-brown; its eggs are deposited upon a leaf and hatch before the leaf falls; theirs are deposited around a twig, because they have to pass the winter and would get lost with the leaves if deposited upon them; it feeds solely on the parenchyma (soft tissue) of the leaf under its web; they devour the whole leaf outside of their tent; and on account of these differences, we cannot employ the preventive measures against it which we take against them."

Really, then, the only point of resemblance is in the web, and this is present only in one stage-the larva stage. Moreover there is another difference which Prof. Riley neglected to mention in the passage quoted; the tent-caterpillar works in the spring while the web-worm is injurious in the fall. This is a matter of considerable importance, for the web-worm comes upon us at the busier season of the year and there is less time to care for it. And, too, the birds are less active in the fall than in the spring

The two insects are about equally abundant so far as I have observed, and do nearly equal damage over the eastern portion of the state. Neither are common in the western part, but are upon the increase.

THE CODLING MOTH-(Carpocapsa pomonella LINN.)

ORDER LEPIDOPTERA-FAMILY TORTRICIDE.

Harris' Ins. Inj. to Veg.: Riley's Mo. Reps., 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6; Am. Entomologist, Vols. II. and III.; Dr. LeBaron, 3d Ill. Rep.. J. H. Comstock, Rep. Dept. of Agric. U. S. A., 1879, M. C. Murtfeldt, Bull. 13, U. S. Dept. of Agric., 1887; Ent. Rep., Io. Hort. Soc., 1882: Matthew Cook, Ins. Inj. to fruit of California, 1881; Canadian Entomologist, June, 1871; A. J. Cook, Inj. Ins. of Mich. and Bull. No. 14, Agric. Coll. of Mich.

Of all insects about which I have written or talked to Nebraska horticulturists, the codling moth seems to be the most feared and the least known. It is omnipresent. I have never visited an orchard or examined a barrel of Nebraska apples without finding traces of this pest, and although it has been known for a very considerable time and voluminously discussed by writers of every degree of knowledge or ignorance, it seems important to give as full an account of it and its habits together with remedies-both good and badas space will permit, in the hope that the extended knowledge of it may assist in its destruction.

To some the codling moth may be better known as the apple-worm. And it is with the worm, or larva, that the fruit-grower is familiar. Although very rarely seen, and a.most always unsuspected, when observed there is a codling moth which is directly responsible for the presence of the apple-worm. The apple-worm is an immature form of the codling moth, just as the cabbage-worm is an immature form of the cabbage butterfly. Since, however, moths-though belonging to the same great order of scale-winged insects with the butterflies-are, for the most part, octurnal in their habits, we are less likely to understand their life-histories without some explanation.

HISTORICAL.

Like one of the cabbage butterflies (Pieris rapae) and the Hessian fly, the codling moth is a foreigner. It has been known for an unrecorded time in Europe, and has been discussed by Koller, Westwood, and other foreign naturalists. According to the calculations of

Prof. Riley and others it appears that it first entered the New World in Revolutionary times, or perhaps a little later. Since its introduction it has spread with wonderful rapidity and is now found wherever apples are grown.

DESCRIPTION AND HABITS.

The moths make their appearance, in this latitude, from the 1st to the 15th of May, and in exceptionally backward seasons even a few days later. They pair and in June are ready for egg-laying. The females come from their hiding places in the dusk of evening and search out the nearest apple-trees, upon which they commence operations in this wise: Having found a young apple, just formed from the blossom, the moth walks over it until she finds the tip or