LACKEY MOTH (Bombyx Neustria). These insects vary considerably in colour, but the upper wings are usually brown, tinged with red or yellow, crossed by a darker band margined with pale bars; the fringes along the hind margin are alternately pale and dark. The lower wings are usually red-brown, with an indistinct paler crossbar. The female lays her eggs on the twigs of various trees, such as Apple, Oak, Elm, &c., in spirally-arranged groups, each about 1/2in. long. When the larvae emerge from the eggs in spring, they are black. For a considerable time, they live in society, spinning a web over the branches and leaves. From the web they go out to feed on the neighbouring branches, but return to it in wet weather, and in the evening; and often they may be seen sunning themselves on its surface. When nearly full fed, they wander apart from one another, to seek out a suitable place--between leaves, among rubbish, in crevices of bark, or elsewhere--to spin an oblong yellow cocoon, with which a sulphury powder is plentifully mixed. When nearly mature, the larvae are gaudily coloured--the head is blue-grey, with two black spots, like eyes; the next segment is blue-grey, with four black spots; the other segments are alike, striped with white down the middle of the back, and with orange-red, blue, and black, on the sides. The pupa is smooth and brown. The moths emerge in July. The Lackey Caterpillars seldom do serious harm, except when they attack the Apple-tree; and they never seem to be so hurtful in England as they are at times in France and Germany. They have not been recorded from Scotland. Remedies. The best is hand-picking. The eggs, when noticed on the branches, should be destroyed; but the best success follows the removal of branches bearing the webs and the young larvae, since these webs are readily seen. Something should be held below, to catch larvae that may drop off. They may also be shaken off the branches, and crushed below the trees. The ground should be kept clear of weeds and other cover for such as fall, or are seeking for a safe shelter in which to spin their cocoons, and to become pupae.