InsecTvS Injurious to the Fruit of the Apple 



1901 



Fig. 100. — Bark flake showing hole 

 through which codling moth larva has 

 been extracted by woodpecker: a, inner 

 surface; b, outer surface 



flakes. Small flocks of these birds may be seen in the orchard during the 



fall and winter months carefully going over the trunk and branches of 



the trees searching for insect food. 



In Figure 100 a is shown an empty 



codling moth cocoon on the inner 



surface of a bark flake, and in b is 



shown the outer surface of the flake 



with a hole made by a woodpecker 



in extracting the larva. Many such 



flakes of bark may be found on 



apple trees infested by the codling 



moth. These birds are svich efficient 



aids in destroying the codling moth 



that it will pay the orchardist not 



only to protect them but also in 



many cases to attract them to the 



trees by tying strips of beef fat or 



suet to a few branches. Birds will 



visit beef fat daily, and then spend hours in searching for insect food on 



the trees. 



Means of control. — As has already been 

 stated, seventy per cent or more of the 

 first-brood larvae enter the fruit at the 

 blossom end. On this important habit 

 of the codling moth rests the present 

 system of controlHng it with poison 

 sprays. When the petals fall from the 

 blossoms, the calyx lobes are spread 

 apart enclosing a cavity, the bottom of 

 which is formed by the bases of the 

 stamens standing close together on the 

 inner surface of the calyx cup, as shown 

 in Figure loi. In the control of the 

 codling moth an arsenical poison is 

 sprayed into this calyx cup. In a week 

 or so after the petals fall, the calyx 

 lobes close over the cavity and prevent 

 the poison from being washed out by 

 the rain. On entering the apple the 

 young caterpillar feeds for some time in 



the calyx cup, and is thus killed by the poison before the fruit is injured. 



The poison is applied just as the last of the petals are falling, because at 



FiG. loi. — Section through newly set 

 apple showing calyx cavity, enlarged 



