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Vol. XXXVII. LONDON, JUNE, 1905. No. 6 



PRACTICAL AND POPULAR ENTOMOLOGY.— No. 6. 



The Struggle with the Codling Moth, 

 by wm. lochhead, ontario agricultural college, guelph. 



Everyone recognizes the destructive work of the Codh'ng Moth, but 

 everyone does not know how to fight it. Much has been written about it, 

 for the great loss occasioned by this one insect has compelled not only 

 fruit-growers but also governments to investigate its habits and to deter- 

 mine practicable methods for its control. As a result of the labours of 

 many scientific observers, its life-history is now fairly well known, and its 

 control is now no longer a matter of mere chance. The recent work of 

 Slingerland and Simpson in particular has cleared up many doubtful points 

 in its life-history, so that the careful, intelligent fruit-grower can now rely 

 upon remedies which are practically effective. 



Although the "worm" or larva is well known on account of its abun- 

 dance, the other stages of the Codling Moth are still unfamiliar to most 

 fruit-growers. This is not to be wondered at, for the moth is quite small, 

 and is a very shy creature. Other small moths are frequently mistaken 

 for it, and this probably explains why a few years ago trap-lanterns were 

 thought by some credulous people to be effective agents in their control. 

 As a matter of fact. Codling Moths do not appear to be attracted by 

 lights, and there are but kw instances on record where they have been 

 captured by such means. 



It is not many years since the eggs of the Codling Moth were first 

 observed and noted. They are very small, and most careful observations 

 are required to detect them. With the first brood they are found most 

 frequently on the leaves, sometimes on the young fruit, but usually on the 

 fruit in the case of the second brood. About ten or eleven days elapse 

 before the young larvae emerge. Naturally, the majority of the newly- 

 hatched larvae of the first brood feed on leaf-tissue. Soon, however, they 

 find the fruit, and enter it, usually at the calyx end. The tunnel to the 

 core, the cavity at the core^ and the exit tunnel and its plug are too well 

 known to require description. The larva lives within the apple about 



