Report of State Board of Horticulture. 79 



egg hatches. In California and in the East, a minute para- 

 sitic insect lives in and destroys a few of the eggs. It is 

 probably present in Oregon, but I have as yet not detected it. 



In Utah a wasp is reported to collect the larvae and store 

 them in its burrow, while the fruit of a neighboring orchard 

 was almost free from injury. In California, another wasp 

 is said to pull the larvae from the apples; while in Indiana 

 the same good office is performed by the downy woodpecker. 

 It is not at all uncommon at Corvallis to find a considerable 

 percentage of the larvae dead in the fruit ; some killed by a 

 fungus disease; by a bacterium. 



After leaving the fruit, and while seeking a place in which 

 to pupate, the larvae are subject to the attacks of numerous 

 predaceous and parasitic insects and many birds, which also 

 continue to prey upon them both as larvae and pupae after 

 they are hidden away in their cocoons. 



Even the moths are captured, while on the wing, by bats 

 and probably many fall a prey to birds, both while at rest 

 during the day and while on the wing at night. At least 

 fifteen species of insects, one hair snake, a fungus disease, 

 a bacterial disease, and many species of birds are known to 

 prey upon the codling moth during some stage of its exist- 

 ence, and yet it ranks as the most destructive apple pest. 



The idea of controlling crop pests by their natural enemies 

 is a popular one; and there are not lacking, enthusiasts who 

 advocate, with little reason, the introduction of this or that 

 particular enemy, or the artificial culture and use of one al- 

 ready present, as a cheap and efficient method of controlling 

 the codling moth. 



In July, 1898, nearly 80 per cent of the larvae infe:-ting 

 the Waxen apples on a certain tree were killed by di-^easc. 

 Two distinct t5''pes of disease were noticeable; one a fungus 

 which produced a solid or mumified condition of the larvae; 

 the other evidently a bacterium which induced decay. I was, 

 at first, impressed with the belief that organisms which na- 

 turally produced such a great mortality among the larvae of 

 the codling moth might be successfully used in orchard 

 practice; but when, early in August, the mortality dimin- 

 ished to about 5 per cent or less, while the larvae were much 



