Caterpillar Gum
Caterpillar Gum
in Russian, gusenichnyi klei). a thick, nondrying, sticky substance: a colloidal solution of synthetic copal in castor oil with wax and sodium or calcium oleate added. It is applied in a belt around the trunk of a tree to prevent caterpillars (hence the name), as well as wingless and nonflying insects from reaching the crown of the tree.