Buff-Tip Moth
(Pygaera bucephala). This large and beautiful Moth is very common in many districts; it is easily recognised by the buff-coloured tips of the forewings-whence its common name; the head, and body between the wings and abdomen, are ochreous. According to Newman's "British Moths," "the caterpillars, when full grown, are about an inch and three-quarters long, and sprinkled with silky hairs; the general colour yellow, with black head, black lines running from the head to the tail, interrupted by a transverse orange band on each ring, and a black horny plate above the tail segment." They feed on the leaves of the Lime, Elm, and Oak, among other trees, and apparently the only remedy is that generally adopted in exterminating caterpillars, viz., to shake the branches which are infested, when the pest will be quickly dislodged, and fall to the ground. Miss Ormerod is of opinion that "as the caterpillars come down the tree to the ground for their change to chrysalids, it might be worth while to throw a few spadefuls of gas-lime, or of anything they would not cross, in a circle at about a yard from the tree; or a rough band of any material soaked in tar, or tar and oil, which would keep wet longer, would stop them from straying off . . . and they might be cleared in sufficient numbers so as to considerably lessen future attack." This plan of prevention deserves a trial in any place where the destructive caterpillars of these Moths abound. It is almost a hopeless task to destroy them altogether when once established on the trees, such specimens as large Oaks being often almost or wholly denuded of foliage.