The Codling- Moth. 



97 



Scientific name. — The name by which this insect is recognized by 

 scientists the world over was given to it by Linnaeus in 1758. This 

 great naturahst named it po/Jionel/a, and his description of it consists 

 of only six words : " Alis nebulosis postice macularubra aurea." * 



As our knowledge of the world's insect faima advanced, the generic 

 position of this insect was changed from the Tinea of Linnaeus 

 through Pyralis, Tortrix, etc., until now all scientists agree in calling 

 it by the generic name (which corresponds somewhat to our sirname) 

 of Carpocapsa , which was proposed in 1830. This name comes from 

 two Greek words meaning, " I eat fruit greedily." The specific name 

 comes from the Latin word for apple. The scientific name of the 

 insect, Carpocapsa pomonclla., thus aptly expresses its characteristic 

 habits. 



How THE Insect Looks. 



Who has not, in biting or 

 cutting into an apple, un- 

 ceremoniously disturbed a 

 little flesh-colored caterpillar 

 in its home, the familiar 

 worm-eaten interior? f When 

 full-grown, this apple- worm is 

 about three-fourths of an inch 

 long, and varies in color from 

 whitish, through flesh color, 

 to sometimes quite a distinct 

 pink. Some have thought 

 that this variation in color 

 may be due to the different 

 varieties of apples infested. 



1 he general characteristics of 12-].— The appie-2vorm, enlarged about three times. 



" In 1775, Pabricius gave it the name of potnana, and a year later it was 

 named pomonana by Schiffenniiiller. It is a curicms and, to ns, an unex- 

 plainable fact that nearly all continental Kuropean Mriters on economic 

 entomology should still use this name — pomonana. The fact that the same 

 insect was described and named by Linnteus as ponionella eighteen years 

 before, and thus has priority, seems never to have been questioned. Why 

 pomonana should still be used seems a mj'ster}'. 



f This is well shown in the picture used as a frontispiece. 



