392 REPORT OF STATE BOARD OP HORTICULTURE, 



probable that hithei-to two very similar but entirely distinct species have 

 been united under the name Anarsia lineatella : that one of these species 

 breeds normally in strawberry plants but may occasionally attack young 

 shoots of the genus prunus in June and July ; while the other, so far as 

 known, breeds only upon trees of the same genus, wintering in the half- 

 grown larval condition in shallow^ burrows in the bark. If this supposition 

 prove true, the interesting question arises, which of the two is Anarsia 

 lineatella and what is the other species '? May it not after all be the A. 

 prninella Clem, which has been discarded as a synonym of A. lineatella Zel- 

 ler. The proper answers to these questions are of considerable scientific 

 and economic importance since they may have a direct bearing on the effi- 

 ciency of certain remedial measures. 



DESCRIPTION AND LIFE-HISTORY. 



The twig-borer moth is shown at cand d, Fig. 1, Plate VII, enlarged two 

 diameters. The fore wings are dark-gray, almost black in color, and are 

 splashed with a few short black lines or streaks. The mounted specimens 

 greatly resemble the moths reared fi'om the larva? in strawberry crowns, 

 but are slightly larger, and darkenin color. The habits of the living moths 

 are quite different. Those reared from the strawberry crowns crawl down 

 among the vines even into crevices in the soil, apparently for the purpose 

 of depositing eggs upon the crowns, and when disturbed run or flutter 

 about with wings half spread. On the other hand the moths of the twig- 

 borer invariably take an elevated position in the breeding cage, and with 

 the fore part of the body slightly raised, and the labial palpi held rigidly 

 upright in front of the face, they present a very characteristic and alert 

 appearance. When disturbed they dart rapidly about, suddenly alighting 

 again in the same characteristic attitude upon another portion of the cage. 

 When out of doors upon the trees, it must be nearly impossible to distin- 

 guish them from buds. The moths began to appear in our breeding cage 

 May 17, and continued to emerge until June 5. 



The larva is shown greatly enlarged at Fig. 2, Plate VII. It is brownish- 

 black or dull, dirty black in color, with head, shield, anal segment, and true 

 legs black, and is covered sparsely with light-colored hairs which arise 

 from minute elevations. When full-grown the larvae are nearly one-half 

 inch long. They then spin a very loose silken cocoon, wherever they may 

 be feeding, in which they pupate. The first pupa was seen May 8, and since 

 the first moths appeared, May 17, the pupal stage lasts about ten days. The 

 pupa and empty pupal case are shown at a and h. Fig. 1, Plate VII. 



INJURY DONE. 



The half-grown larvae pass the winter in minute burrows in the bark of 

 infested trees. ( See Fig. 3, Plate VII). In spring, soon after the buds begin 

 to open, some of the larva? leave their winter quarters and bore directly 

 into the center of the buds in such a manner as to destroy the terminal ones. 

 The shoot, therefore, fails to develop, although often the dead terminal 

 leaves may be surrounded by a whorl of well-developed leaves. Later they 



