CIHM Microfiche Series (IMonographs) ICIMH Collection de microfiches (monographles) Canadian Instituta for Historical IMicroreproductions / Institut Canadian da microraproductions hittoriquos Technical and Bibliographic Notes / Note j techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in he reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming are checked below. D D D Coloured covers / Couverture de couleur Covers damaged / Couverture endommagte Covers restored and/or laminated / Couverture restaur^ et/ou pellicula D D D D D D D Cover title missing / Le titre de couverture manque Coloured maps / Cartes gdographiques en couleur Coloured inl< (i.e. other than blue or black) / Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) Coloured plates and/or illustrations / Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material / Relid avec d'autres documents Only edition available / Seule Edition disponible Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin / La reliure serrte peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distorsion le long de la marge int^rieure. Blank leaves added during restorations may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming / II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajout^es lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6\aH possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6\6 film^es. Additional comments / Commentaires suppl^mentaires: L'institut a microfilm^ le nwilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6\6 possible de se procurer. Les d^ails de cet exem- plaire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibli- ographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite. ou qui peuvent exiger une modifk»tion dans la m^tho- de normale de filmage sont indk]u6s ci-dessous. I I CokMjred pages / Pages de couleur I I Pages damaged / Pages endommag6es D Pages restored and/or laminated / Pages restaurtes et/ou peilicui^s Q Pages discoloured, stained or foxed / Pages dteolor^s, tachet^s ou piques I I Pages detached / Pages d^tach^es [^ Showthrough/ Transparence I I Quality of print varies / D D D Quality in^gale de I'impression Includes supplementary material / Comprend du materiel suppl^mentaire Pages wholly or partially obscured by en-ata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image / Les pages totaiement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont i\6 film^es ^ nouveau de fa^on k obtenir la meilleure image possible. Opposing pages with varying colouration or discotourations are filmed twice to ensure the best possible image / Les pages s'opposant ayant des colorations variables ou des decolorations sont film6es deux fois afin d'obtenir la meilleure image possible. This Ham it f ilnwd at tha raductlon ratio chaclcad balow / Ca documant ast film* au taus da rMuctlon indlqu« ci-daatoua. lOx 14x 18x 22x 26x 30x y 12x 1«X 20x 24x 28x 39v Th« eopv filmad h«r« haa b—n raproducad thanka to tha ganaroaity of: Bicckar-Mood Library of Biology McCni University, Montroal L'axamplaira film4 fut raproduit griea i la s4n*roait* da: Blacker-Nood Library of Biology McCni University, Montreal Tha imagaa appaaring hara ara tfta baat quality poaaibia cenaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and In kaaping with tha filming contract apacif icationa. Original copiaa in printad papar covara ara fllmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha iaat paga «vith a printad or llluatratad impraa- aion. or tfia back covar whan appropriata. All othar original copiaa ara fllmad baginning on tha f irat paga with a printad or llluatratad impraa* aion. and anding on tha Iaat paga with a printad or llluatratad impraaaion. Tha Iaat racordad frama on aach microfiche ahall contain tha symbol ^^ (maaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol ▼ (maaning "END"), whichavar appliaa. Las imagas suivantas ont At* raproduitas avac la plus grand soin. compta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da t'axamplaira film*, at an conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. Las anamplairas originaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat imprim«a sent filmte an eommanpant par la pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darniira paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustration. soit par la second plat, salon la cas. Tous las autras axamplairas originaux sont filmis an commanpant par la pramiAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'imprassion ou d'illustration at an tarminant par la darniira paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Un das symbolas suivants apparaftra sur la darniira imaga da chaqua microfiche, talon la cas: la symbols — ^ signifia "A SUIVRE". la symbols ▼ signifia "FIN ". Mapa. platas. charta. ate. may bo filmed at different reduction ratioa. Thoaa too large to be entirely included in one expoeure ere filmed beginning in the upper left hand comer, left to right and top to bottom, as many framea aa required. The following diagrama illustrate the method: Lea cartea. planches, tableaux, etc.. pouvent «tre filmte A des toux de reduction diffirents. Lorsque le document est trop grend pour ttre reproduit en un soul clich*. il est film* A psrtir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de geucha i droite. at de haut en bes. en prenant le nombre d'imeges nAcessoire. lies diogremmes suivsnts illustrent la m4thoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 MICROCOPY MMUITION TBT CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHADT No. 2) Li IK IS 1^1 1.6 J /1PP' lED IN/MGE Inc ^? 1653 Cost Mo'i Str««t r^ Rocheslef. f^w Vorh 1*609 USA as (716) 492 - 0300 - Phon« 5 (716) 288 - ^989 - Fo. DOMINION OF CANADA ARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ENTOMOLOtJlCAL BRANCH C. OoBDON BiwiTT, Dominion Entomologiat. ■rhOUl Uiit»«r>N> LWrwtM S 100 Ml SM I TENT CATERPILLARS BY J. M. SWAIHE, A$9i$tant Entomologist in charge of Forest Insect Investigations. i CCISCTrLAB No. 1. \ (Revised Edition.) J e<-\, OvC, / Publiahed by direction of the Hon. THOS. ALBXANDitR CRERAIR. Minister of Asricul^ure Ottawa, Ont. 4 OTTAWA J. Da lacboquerie: TACH6 FBZNTBB TO THE K NO'S HOST EXCELLEI^ MAJESTT 191» 46661—1 Issued September 21. 1918. T '^^E SHALL BE PLEASED to hear from any ena cen- carnlng damaga or troubia of any kind dua to Intact paata. No poataga i» rtrjirad an auch lattara af Inquiry whan addraaaad: DOMINION ENTOMOLOQIST, Oapartmant of Agrlcultura, OTTAWA, OMT. Such Inqulrlaa ahould bt accompaniad in all caaaa whara It la poaalbia by tpacimant of tha Intacta. Tha Iniactt thould ba ttnt packad wfth thair food plant In a ttrong woodan or tin box to pravant loat In tranalt. Packaget up to 12 ouncat in waight may ba mallad fraa and every package thould bear or contain The tendar'a name and addrett and be accompanied by a fatter. 4 THE TENT CATERPILLARS. {Malacotoma ameticana Fabr., and M. diuttia Hubn.) ,■♦ From time to time outbrotka o£ the Tent CaterpilUn occur in different part* of Canada. Not infrequently theae outbreaks attain lerioui proportions owing to the absence of natural or artificial means of control, and the caterpillars are then severely destructive to orchards, shade trees and hardwood forests. A few years ago severe outbreaks of Tent Caterpillars occurred in the provinces of New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia, and serious defoliation of forest and orchard resulted. In localities where these outbreaks have occurred, unless the natural enemies such ax parasitic insects and disease are sufficient to control the pests, a recurrence of their depredations may usually be expected. This circular has accordingly been prepared to render advice as to ttie mtthods of destroying the eggs and early stages of the caterpillars in localities where it is found that the natural means of control have not been effectual. The Nature of the Injury.— The caterpillars appear in spring and feed upon the leaves at broad-leaved trees of many species. The American Tent Caterpillar (Mala- cotoma americatM) is most common on fruit trees, wild cherry, and hawthorn, but when very abundant it readily attacks a variety of shade and forest trees. lU con- spicuous tents, constructed during April and May, are familiar to everyone. The Forest Tent Caterpillar (Malacogoma diutria) prefers poplar, birch, elm, oak, maple and other forest trees, but it is also found in orchards, particularly in years of great abundance. During the season of 1812 these two species, but particularly the Forest Tent Caterpillar, stripped many thousands of trees in infested districts of Quebec, Ontario, and New Bruns"*-"' Square miles of poplar and birch were completely defoliated by the hordes c terpillars. After the foliage of an area is destroyed the caterpillars sometimes ma h in great armies in search of new food, defoliating the trees and shrubs along theur route. It was not uncommon in the summer of 1918 for the trains on the Gatineau River line of the Canadian Pacific Railway, in Quebec, to be stopped by myriads of Uiese caterpillars swarming on the rails, which were effectively greased by their crushed bodies. The engine men were kept busy in many places sanding the rails and sweeping away the crawling masses of caterpillars in front of the engine, while the latter was often covered with hundreds of the creatures, after passing through the infested districts. Similar instances of the stoppage of trains by the caterpillars have been reported from New Brunswick and British Columbia. By the end of the first week in June large areas of poplar and birch, notably in the Oatineau Valley and in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, were stripped as bare a£ foliage as though it were mid-winter. Towards the middle of July the moths collected in myriads about the arc-lights of the city of Ottawa, and the females deposited immense numbsrs of egg-masses on the twigs of the city sharle trees, and upon objects of all kinds. Outbreaks of these catarpi liars have been common in eastern Canada and the United States from the earliest times. Both are native species. The Tent Cater- pillar, now injurious in our apple orchards, probably had as its original food-tree the wild cherry, which it apparently still prefers. Outbreaks were recorded from Massa- chusetts as early, possibly, as 1646, and at recurring intervals and in varying localities these species have appeared throughout Eastern America as destructive pests to orchards, shade trees, and forests. 46661—2 TlIK AMKRKIAN TKNT CATKIU'ILLAH. {.tf. amrrieana Fubr.'* it.hll'iJ '\*t •"'''■''"''•"I'? ^I-"-''- -«' ••••tnnioM ill orclmrdi during May and June- Fig. 1. •Small Tent of AmBrican Tent Cater- pillar. Half natural HJie The adult (8«e FiK. 4) is a nu-diun.-sized moth, with u wing expanse of one and one-half inches or I«« reddish-brown in oolour. with two oblique whirbandr«c«M each fore-wing near the middle. The male is distinctly smaller than the femaleTnd has densely feathered antei;- •> or fo.lers. »«"•»•« ana The caterpillar Tig. 0, whta full grown is .-bout two ino. , in length It is black sparsely clothed with yellowish hairs and has a whitish band borderS with re^t side, with reddish-brown and yellow line, and markings on the sides below. the tlts'fs'eeTrr;^ "^frTrf' '^T!^'^ '" '^'^'^ ""^-lik" "lasses about '^'7ZiZlZl\l rj Ipl^yrett'aXlTetuii'Xn V« tVan^isfo7rtrIfv::f cio,!;ri,[„^ "-'' "^"""^ "°'-«^'^ -- ^'-p-^ Life-hhlory and hahits.-Jhe, ogg-mnsses of this species are found r ir the tins 1 fir."'^ "^ *^" """^"- '^'^'^ ^""'"^ -aterpillarVhateh from tL JL durin"; the first warm spring days, just as the apple buds are opening in fact „^ w irr Thfcat^iiitr^oirh^^g^irctt ivr'" ':^ -- ^•^--^ silken tent in a nearby crotch (see fT n 1 W I u^ construction of a ■nd p«rticul«rty duriiiR col.l or utorni.v wwithw. I^iyer after layer of lilk. »pan in throadii through the mouthit of the mterpilltiri.. i.« added to the tent; ao that it uaualljr preaenta a neat app<'ar«nee, and increase* in aire to aeeommodato the faat growing caterpillan. Fi>, i. KfR-ina«iiM i>( Tent Cat«-r|>ill«n ; »l. amtrintiui at thn rislit. It, (litrtria at th<' Irft. (Abnnt natunil nixii.) Fig. 3. KgK» of Tent Catfrpillars on Maole tv/ign ; 1, old e(tg maan from whir;h larv» have eKaped ; 2, normal e^^-mawira; 3, egg-marara which were not covered with the glae-like auoetance. (Enlarged. ) On a lincle roediun-iiifid wi'.d cherry trra at OielM*. Que., thirty-^'ren of thtM tenU were counted. Etch of thene tenU will ihelter from about one . ;ndr«d to two hundred ard fifty caterpillMra. The caterpillam feed for about sis weeka, and become mature durinir ihc lait two wecka of June or earlier, according to the leaaon and locality. They tuen wander reatle^ly about sc<«kinK a suitable shelter for pupatin*. They come to reat. finally, in vrw crevice, under looru. bark, in n folded leaf, in an anjrle of a fence or buildintr, or even among the ailk of the tent, or on the tide of a house. Each caterpillar spins about itself a tough sack or cocoon of white ailk and attechea it firmly to the object upon which it reaU by a maaa of more loosely spun silken strands. A fluid ejected by the caterpillar upon the cocoon dries and produces a char- acteristic yellow powder, which is dislodged readily when the cocoons are dioturbed. Within the cocoon the caterpillar enters upon a resting or pupal stage. The outer skin driea and splits, and a brownish, apparently legless and wingless pupa emerges therefrom. It lies almost motionless within the co<'oon whilo the organs of the adult moth are developing within its hard outer skin. The cocoonn are spun mostly during W^ M* Kig. 4. Mi>th« «"»y "'''^h'f '* J'^urtwo brS-yellow band, c^am-coloured spots «;'>'«,*»'«,f"'1Jlr,lw of bS Tbng "be middle of the back dis- Sir&S^Vr Sf AJJjUrxl^^^^ which has instead a con- tinuous whitish dorsal band. Fi.. 6. 1, the AmerioMi Tent C.terpilUr2a »nd S. thi. Forert Tent CaterpiUw. (Slightly enUrged.) rounding the smalkrtw.gs of ^et^jponw^^^^^^^^ ^^^ almost any moths are very abundant the egg-masses «™ ^ " ^ , . shining, thick, available surfac. Normal y, the «8^"'-"3,«~t^d^f„ « ,lue-like substance dark-coloured ba.-d conta.n.ng from 1.50 \^^^ ^J^^^f ";„;?«, to those of the which hardens and holds them in place. The "^"^'^f '^^^"^ T American Tent Caterpillar, but are more squarely cut at the end. JAf.^uU,ry an, /,«L,7.- The pneral life-history is simil^« to th^^^^^^ the Ar^en- .„n Tent Caterpillar. The winter is passed - ^^;^^/; ^"f^^^i^ 2 are bursting, pillars emerge from the eggs in early Apnl ''^f.f'll'ZvA^rlu^^ each egrmass and feed upon the opening buds and leaves, ^he cat^rpil ars^rom ^ usually keep together and feed ,n .■ongress. They spm a . ^^^^^^^ ^^^ thread wherever they go. but construct ''"J™*;, .^^ ;"t«^« -/Yd' Ja large branch; weather, they crowd closely together on t**^^ *'"«''; ''"P"" lateroillars are quite con- s"r"c.Tpj;zr'.r, srr .fd .u' «« <.< b..*..., «< *. .«>. >« -n- to drop from the branches or leaves. Some fall to the jrround, and others ban? suspended by a thread of silk, spun from the mouth. This habit of dropping when disturbed is sometimes utilized in their control. Fig. 7. CooooM of ForMt Tent QitorpUUr. (AtUa towt, Gentm Kxperinent SUUion.) NATURE'S METHODS OF CONTROL. Outbreaks of thost caterpillars occur at intervals; during the intervening years, owing chiefly to the activity of their natural enemies, they are much less numerous or at times are even almost rare. Insect Parasites.— CeHain minute four-winged insects of the Order Hymenoptera lay their eggs within those of the moths, and the resulting minute larvae, small white grubs, develop within the Tent Caterpillar eggs and destroy them. Certain other parasites of the Orders Hymenoptera and Diptera breed within the Tent Caterpillars and their pup«, and are most active agents in their control. Several species of predftcioua beetles and bugs are known to feed upon the cater- pillars; and mites have been found destroying the egg-masses. 5trn the eggs, and others to a small degree upon the moths! The protection and encouragement of our native birds would go far towards reducing file numbers of many injurious insects of orchards, shade trees, and forests. Disease.i.—A bacterial disease at times destroys many of the caterpillars and effectively aids in their control. Those affected by this disease often remain attached to the bark by a portion of the body. The internal organs are largely reduced to a dark-coloured fluid, which exudes when the skin is broken. 10 A second digeaw, fungoua in ite nature, is Bometimw prevafent ^'^J* /Jf *fj caterpiUaw become dry and rigid, and remain for some time with a portion of the body attached to the bark or twigs. . ^ . •„• n r»..»k«- Both these diseases were noticed during 1912 in the G-tineau Valley. Quebec, and were effective later in controlling the outbreak. Fig. 8. Cla.terofC.trrpm.«ofAf.rf.««rfa. (After tA,w«, /.V««. «xp«r.».«»« ««»«».. Bull. 180.) ARTIFICIAL METHODS OF CONTROL. The control of these insects on wide areas of forest lands is not at PJ*«««t »" J« considered. The following directions apply to the protection of shade trees, orchards, parks and wood-lots. The Destruction of Egg-masses.— miile the trees are bare of leaves the egg- mas^ may tve^ easily distinguished on the twigs. ^'^ ;-\^-J-|i«Xch mately 150 voracious young caterpillars will emerge in the following ^pnL M"=h Zd can therefore, be done by removing these egg-masses from sma 1 and med um- S tr^ and burning them before the first of April. This practice is profitable only onThe more valuable fruit and shade trees. Ten egg-mas«es destroyed during the winter rid a'ree of from 1.500 to 2,500 caterpillars for the following spring. Those left may be more easily controlled. Jamno.-The For st Tent Caterpillar usually drops to the ground when the parts oTthe tree near .t are jarred or shaken. By striking the branches near the Sers of caterpillars with a long-handled, padded mallet, the greater Vfjiih^^ caterpillars can be removed from small trees and from those of n^edium size The tronks must then be banded with one of the adhesive mix ures described in the next p«aSaph. to prevent the creatures ascending to their old feeding grounds^ It has bLn recommended to spread a large sheet beneath the trees before jamng. and to gather and destroy the caterpillars which fall. BamJinj,.-Uninfested trees frequently need to be protected from wandering caterpillars which have fallen from their original food-trees, or have been jarred ?hSom. or are seeking new feeding grounds. These caterpillars can be prevented from Sbing trees by banding the trunks, five or six feet up. with cotton, or tree 11 Unfflefoot. A band of cotton batting, or a strip of sacking, eight inches wide, fastened about the trunk with a string at the middle of the band, with the upper part of the cotton turned down over the string, acts as a fairly effective obstacle to the passage of the caterpillars. The most convenient band is made of some sticky substance such as " tree tangle- foot" Strips of thick wrapping paper, a foot in width, are tied about the trunlc, five or six feet above the ground, with two strings, and well smeared with a four inch band of "tree tanglefoot"* or with a mixture made by boiling together equal parts of resin and castor oil. The sticky substance must be renewed or extended as it dries or becomes covered with the caterpillars. Dettroying Tents and Clusters of Caterpillars. — The nests of the American Tent Caterpillar may be removed while small, and the contained caterpillars destroyed. This may be done with the aid of long-handled tree-trimmers or with a brush, or the nesta may be burned with a torch while the caterpillars are within them. The torch may be made of a mass of rags or cotton waste soaked in kerosene (coal oil) and tied on a long pole. Asbestos fibre 8oak>>d in kerosene and placed in a tin can nailed to the end of a pole makes an excellent torch. The flame should be passed below the nest so as to destroy it and the contained caterpillars, care being taken not to injure the bark of the branches, a rather difficult operation. The nests should, of course, be destroyed while the caterpillars are within them. The clusters of the Forest Tent Caterpillar may be removed when they are massed on the lower branches or trunks of the trees by means of a torch or by brushing them off with a stiff wire brush, or they may be killed by a strong spray of kerosene emulsion applied directly to the cater- pillars. Gathering Cocoons. — After the caterpillar stagre is past and the cocoons are spun, the latter may be gathered, and thus the escape of the moths which emerge will be prevented. The collected cocoons should be placed in a box covered with a coarse wire netting, about three-sixteenths of an inch mesh. This will allow the useful para- sites to escape but retain the moths, which may be destroyed later. Spraying. — When spraying apparatus is available the simplest and most con- venient method is the application of Paris green in the proportion of one pound to 160 gallons of water, or dry lead arsenate, at the rate of two pounds to 40 gallons of water, to the infested trees or parts of trees, just as the caterpillars are appearing from the eggs. Orchards which receive the regular poison sprays for the codling moth and the plum curculio rarely suffer from tent caterpillars. The young caterpillars are killed by the poison before they are able to do much damage. After they are more than half grovm it is much more difficult to kill them by arsenical preparations, end they should, therefore, always be attended to early in the season. When it is necessary to spray specially for these pests, it is usually sufficient to apply the mixture to the foliage on the particular branches which are attacked. Lead arsenate is to be preferred on account of its adhering qualities. FORMUL.*: FOR SPRAY MIXTURES. Paris Green.- -Paris green, 1 lb. Best grade quick-limi Water, 160 gallons. 2 lbs. (Prevents burning.) Preparation. — The Paris green is made into a paste with a little water. The quick-lime is slaked with sufficient water and strained free from hard lumps. The Paris green paste and the slaked lime are then stirred into the required amount of water. The Paris green particles are heavier than water and the spray mixture must be constantly stirred while spraying is in process. When the caterpillars are over one- third grown 120' gallons of water should be used. •A commercial preparation obtainable from dealers In Insecticide*. r r- 18 Lead Ar»rnnle. — This ini'CH'ticide iiu'.v 1h> olitniiird in quantity in the form of a pante or n?- n ixiwdcr. The \hiMv niunt he woritod up in n «inall amount of water before beiuK diluttnl. It ix uxed on fruit and shiide tr(H-!i at the rate of three pounds mixed in forty iiullons of water. This strength will niidily control youn^r Tent Caterj»illarg, but the older one*, one-third irrown and over, need a very much stronfter spray. When the jKiwdered form i* um-d only half as mu<'h of the ]H>i!ton is n»H>ded. Lime is not needed with this inseetieide. When the hatehiuK caterpillars are eriremi'lii numerous the stronirer sprays may be used with advantaRe. In orchard practice ihese jioisoiis are added to the fun^cicide used, at the rate griven above. Paris urreen may l)e added to Bordeaux mixture; lead arsenate to either Bordeaux or lime-sulphur wash. It mimt be remembered that both Paris green and lead arsenate are violent poisons. Shade trees may be most easily protected by spraying the infested branches with lead arsenate as soon as the caterpillars aptiear, and promptly banding the trees with " tree tanglefoot " or a similar prejiaration, as previously suggested, to prevent rein- festation. When spraying apparatus cannot be obtained, other means, recommended above, may be employed to remove the caterpillars from the trees. THE DESTRUCTION OF USELESS TREES. It too often happens that useless and neglected apple, wild cherry and hawthorn trees are allowed to live in the neighbourhood of apple orchards. On these the Tent Caterpillars, other leaf-feeding caterpillars, certain boring-beetles, and fruit pests breed undisturbed, and readily spread to nearby orchards. Particular attention should be paid by orchardists to the removal of these useless and dangerous trees, Si d, as already suggested, to the protection of our native birds. /