374 Report of the Department of Entomology of the 



The larva of the fruit-tree leaf-roller appears as the buds are burst- 

 ing and feeds upon the unfolding leaves. The leaves and blossom 

 clusters are tied together in a web, within which the larvae feed. 

 The injury to the fruit is similar to that described for the above 

 associated species. The caterpillars mature in June and the moths 

 appear about one month later. The fruit-tree leaf-roller deposits 

 its eggs on the bark of the trunk and twigs, where they remain 

 through the winter. 



Treatment. — Very careful and thorough spraying with arsenate 

 of lead (3 pounds to 50 gallons of mixture) should afford satisfactory 

 protection. The first application should be made shortly after the 

 eggs begin to hatch, which will be when the first green foliage is 

 showing on the trees, and the second as soon as the blossom buds 

 have separated in the clusters. The fruit-tree leaf-roller has proven 

 a very difficult insect to control. Arsenate of lead should be applied 

 as recommended for the associated species. Recent experiments 

 indicate that the insect may be efficiently combated by thorough 

 spraying just before buds open with miscible oil diluted with fifteen 

 parts of water. 



APPLE RED BUGS. 



Heterocordylus malinus Reut. 

 Lygidea mendax Reut. 



These are small, brilliant red, sucking insects that destroy or deform 

 young fruit. The punctures of the tissues (Plate II, fig. 2) by the 

 insects cause the apples to drop or shrivel upon the tree, or to become 

 pitted and misshapen. (Plate XXVI, fig. 4.) The eggs of the red 

 bug are inserted in the bark of the young wood and they hatch the 

 following spring. The nymphs begin to appear soon after the leaves 

 of the fruit buds open, and hatching is practically completed by the 

 time the blossoms open. The young nymphs feed upon the leaves 

 until the fruit sets, after which they attack the fruit. (Plate XXVI, 

 fig. 3.) The first indication of their presence is minute reddish 

 spots on the terminal leaves which are caused by their feeding. 

 (Plate XXVI, fig. 1 ) 



Treatment. — The insect may be controlled by spraying just before 

 the blossoms open and again after the petals fall with nicotine 

 extract (Black Leaf 40), using one pint of the extract and four pounds 

 of soap to each 100 gallons of water. These treatments coincide 

 with the 2nd and 3rd applications that are regularly made for scab 

 and codling moth, and fruit-growers are advised to add the nicotine 

 to the lime-sulphur and arsenate of lead. The presence of this 

 insect in the orchard may be determined by placing dormant twigs 

 of bearing wood in water in a warm room after March first, and if 

 eggs of these insects are present, small active red bugs will appear, 

 which will attack the tender leaves. 



