70 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



ports of the unusual destructiveness of this insect in the* 

 Pacific Northwest. Its ravages are serious to be sure, -but so 

 they are in other apple-growing centers. No doubt there are 

 localities in which the codling moth has been present but a 

 comparatively short time, where the injury has been excessive 

 during one or perhaps several years. The balance of nature 

 has not been struck. The various enemies of tlie moth ara not 

 yet doing their share in reducing its numbers. Such conditions 

 have occurred and do still occur elsewhere, seasons of ex- 

 cessive loss alternating with seasons of comparatively little 

 injury. I believe a candid examination of the facts should 

 give hope for the future. 



DESCRIPTION AND LIFE HISTORY. 



When fully grown in fall, each larva usually leaves the 

 fruit in which it developed, seeks some secluded spot and 

 spins about itself a silken cocoon in which it passes the 

 winter. Late in March, some of these larvae transform to 

 pupae from which the moths emerge about the first of April, 

 and from this date moths are continually emerging until the- 

 first part of July. 



The moths are really beautiful little creatures. The abdo- 

 men and the hind wings, which are covered when the insect 

 is at rest, are of a modest greyish brown color. The ground 

 color of the fore wings is similar, but is relieved by trans- 

 verse, wavy, alternating bands of grey and brown. Perhaps 

 the most characteristic marking is a large golden-bronze spot 

 at the inner hind angle of each front wing. I know of no 

 other common insect with this mark, and no insect in which 

 it is absent need be mistaken for the codling moth. 



The males are further distinguished by a narrow pencil of 

 black hairs on the upper surface of the hind wing and an 

 elongated blackish spot on the under surface of each front 

 wing. Owing to its peculiar coloring, which harmonizes well 

 with the color of the bark, and the habit of usually remaining 

 quiet during the daytime, it is rare indeed to find a fruit 

 grower who is acquainted with this beautiful but destructive 

 little insect. Indeed, I find that commonly the most widely 

 divergent ideas are held as to its appearance, and unscrupu- 



