Home > Europe > United Kingdom > England > Worcestershire > Pershore
Winter Moths, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Heritage Images
Winter Moths, 1858. Creator: Unknown
Winter Moths, 1858. At the last monthly meeting of the Entomological Society...an interesting conversation arose as to the habits of a caterpillar, which is doing great injury this season to fruit-trees, and the means, if any, of checking its ravages. A visitor from Worcestershire spoke of its prevalence in the neighbourhood of Evesham and Pershore. In the former place the gardens are estimated at 1200 acres, the greater part stocked with plum-trees, having gooseberry and currant trees below them as an undergrowth. Through these gardens broad tracks are leafless and entirely stripped of the fruit which only a fortnight before had given promise of one of the finest crops on record...He thought the damage in that locality alone would be very moderately estimated at £10, 000. The Chairman, W. O. Westwood, Esq. and several of the members, identified the caterpillar as the larvae of the Cheimatobia Brumata, or winter moth, a very common pest to fruit-trees, and thought there was no certain remedy but destroying the individual larvae by hand...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1858
Heritage Images features heritage image collections
Media ID 36375964
© The Print Collector/Heritage Images
Caterpillar Caterpillars Currants Damage Damaged Entomology Gooseberry Insect Insects Moth Moths Pest Gooseberries
FEATURES IN THESE COLLECTIONS
> Animals
> Insects
> Butterflies
> Winter Moth
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Greater London
> Related Images
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Worcestershire
> Evesham
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Worcestershire
> Pershore
> Europe
> United Kingdom
> England
> Worcestershire
> Related Images
EDITORS COMMENTS
This image from 1858 depicts Winter Moth caterpillars, a notorious pest that caused extensive damage to fruit trees during that season. The photograph was featured in an article published in the "Illustrated London News," which detailed the devastating impact of these moths on gardens, particularly in the areas of Evesham and Pershore in Worcestershire, England. At the time, the gardens in these locations were estimated to cover approximately 1200 acres, with the majority of the land dedicated to plum trees, and gooseberry and currant trees serving as undergrowth. The article describes how these gardens were once teeming with fruit that promised a bountiful harvest, but within a fortnight, the broad tracks through the gardens were entirely stripped of their fruit, leaving behind only the leafless branches. The damage was estimated to be worth a significant sum of money, with a moderate estimate placing it at £10,000. The identity of the caterpillar causing this destruction was confirmed by the Chairman of the Entomological Society, W.O. Westwood, and several other members, who identified it as the larvae of the Cheimatobia Brumata, or the Winter Moth. They lamented that there was no certain remedy to check the moths' ravages other than manually destroying each individual larva. This labor-intensive and time-consuming method was the best solution available to gardeners at the time, as they sought to protect their fruit trees from the Winter Moth's destructive appetite.
MADE IN THE USA
Safe Shipping with 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
FREE PERSONALISATION*
We are proud to offer a range of customisation features including Personalised Captions, Color Filters and Picture Zoom Tools
SECURE PAYMENTS
We happily accept a wide range of payment options so you can pay for the things you need in the way that is most convenient for you
* Options may vary by product and licensing agreement. Zoomed Pictures can be adjusted in the Cart.
