136 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



destroyers, but they are ably seconded by jays, chickadees, wrens, spar- 

 rows, swallows, titmice, kinglets and bluebirds. 



Notwithstanding this splendid array of feathered friends of the orchard- 

 ists, there has been considerable agitation, in this and neighboring states, 

 in favor of importing the Kohlmeise (Parus major) from Germany. It is 

 even reported that the last legislature of Utah appropriated $500 to be 

 expended in making such an importation. The advocates of such an ex- 

 periment claim that the Kohlmeise is the natural enemy of the codling 

 moth, that in Germany it keeps the moth in subjection, and that if im- 

 ported to this country it would probably be as effective here. 



I believe such an importation would be a dangerous and an unnecessary 

 experiment; unnecessary because we have already in this state three native 

 species of birds which belong to me same genus as the Kohlmeise, and 

 which, in all probability, have very similar habits, viz: The Oregon chick- 

 adee (parus atricappillus occidentalis), the mountain chickadees (P. gam- 

 beli), and the chestnut-backed chickadee (P. rufescens); dangerous because 

 it is always uncertain what changes in habits may occur when an animal, 

 be it ever so harmless in its native habitat, is introduced to new conditions. 

 In support of this statement it is only necessary to call attention to the 

 introduction of the English sparrow into the United States, the mongoose 

 into Jamaica, the European rabbit into Australia and the starling into 

 New Zealand. Those interested in the subject are referred to an article 

 by Dr. T. S. Palmer* on "The Danger of Introducing Noxious Animals 

 and Birds." 



Regarding the Kohlmeise, Dr. Palmer writes as follows: 



" 'Kohlmeise' is the German name of the great titmouse of Europe 

 (Parus major), and this designation is used to some extent in the United 

 States. The Kohlmeise is common over the whole of Europe as far north 

 as the Arctic circle and also in Siberia. * * * The Kohlmeise has re- 

 cently attracted attention on account of its alleged value as a destroyer of 

 the codling moth (Carpocapsa pomenella), particularly in Germany, where 

 it is reported to protect apple trees in large measure from the attacks of 

 this destructive insect. But although several German authors regard it 

 as a most useful species, there seems to be no satisfactory evidence that 



* Yearbook U. S. Dept. Agr. (1898). 



THE CODLING MOTH. 



Fig. b. Moth resting on apple. Reduced one half. 



Fig. e. Wormy apDle showing familiar mass of frass at calyx end. Reduced one 



balf. ' , , ,, 



Fig. f. Mature apple showing spot where a second brood larva had entered at the 

 side. Reduced one half. 



Fig. g. Interior of wormy apple showing point of entrance at calyx, channel to the 

 core, excavation about the core, exit passage, in which is the larva, leading to the sur- 

 face of the fruit where it is clo.sed with a plug of frass and silken threads. Reduced to 

 one third natural size. 



Fig. h. Winter quarters disturbed. A winter cocoon on the 'under surface of a 

 piece of apple bark has been torn open to show the inclosed hibernating larva. 

 Enlarged 1>^ dia. 



