388 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



dark-colored Tortricid larva?. I at once suspected that these larvae repre- 

 sented the skirmish line of the bud moth, but to be certain I sent a few of 

 them to Doctor Howard, who under date of May 7 replied that "there is 

 little doubt that the larvae which you send are the larvae of the eye-spotted 

 bud moth, Tmetocera ocellana.'''' May 24 all doubt as to the true nature of 

 the pest was removed by the issuing of several moths of this species. 



% 



DISTRIBUTION. 



This insect is of European origin and was first described more than a 

 century ago. In this country it first attracted attention as an injurious 

 species about 1840, the first account of its work apparently being the one 

 published by Doctor Harris in 1841. Since then it has spread over the New 

 England states, the middle states, and Canada, and has been reported from 

 Washington, D. C, Michigan, and Missouri. In 1893 it was introduced at 

 Genesee, Idaho, on nursery stock from Rochester, New York,* and now it 

 has obtained a foothold in Oregon. Whether the Portland specimens have 

 spread from the Idaho importation or whether they have been introduced 

 from the east on infested nursery stock, I do not know. 



NATURE OF THE INJURY. 



The small, brown, half-grown larvaa of this insect pass the winter in 

 minute inconspicuous cocoons on the twigs and branches of infested trees. 

 Early in spring, as soon as the buds begin to open, they leave their tempo- 

 rary winter quarters and attacking both fruit and leaf buds, injure many of 

 them so seriously as to stop their growth. On large, thrifty trees this injury 

 is of but little account unless the insects are very numerous ; but in young 

 orchards or in the nursery it seriously interferes with the proper shaping of 

 the trees. Some of the larvae bore into the buds before they have opened, 

 but the larger proportion attack the half-opened buds and feed upon the 

 expanding leaves and flowers, tying them together with silken threads. 

 ( See Fig. 2, Plate VI). Some of the partly eaten leaves turn brown, and 

 thus render the work of the insect quite conspicuous. The tying together of 

 the opening leaves and flowers and the brown appearance of many of them, 

 are the most characteristic indications of the work of this pest. 



DESCRIPTION AND LIFE-HISTORY. 



The half-grown larvae winter in inconspicuous temporary cocoons which 

 are usually secreted about the buds on the twigs and smaller branches. ( See 

 Fig. 3, Plate VI ). When the buds begin to open in the spring the larvae 

 leave their cocoons and attack both leaf and fruit buds as above described. 

 Some of the larvae received from Mr. Borg, April 21, were nearly or quite 

 full grown, while others were scarcely more than one-half grown. They 

 were dark-brown in color with black head and thoracic shield, and were 

 thinly covered with light-colored hairs arising from minute black eleva- 

 tions. The largest ones were nearly one-half inch long. 



* C. V. Piper, Bui. IV.'jWash. Bxpt. Sta., p. 24. 



