348 Phylum Arthropoda 



the edge of the pans and held by clips as described earlier. These strips 

 are removed and handled like the original stock. 



Another method of augmenting the stock of moths in the fall is by 

 the use of infested quinces placed in butter tubs prepared for their 

 reception. Three or four %-inch holes are bored in the bottom of the 

 tubs and covered with a fine mesh wire screen. This aids in ventilating 

 and delays fruit rot. Two inches below the tub rim two rows of cor- 

 rugated paper strips are tacked completely encircling the sides. The 

 tubs are half-filled with infested quinces, and muslin covers tied over 

 the top. The fruit moth larvae, upon completing development, leave the 

 fruit and spin in the corrugated paper. The strips must be removed 

 when filled with larvae and new strips tacked in place. These tubs are 

 left in the insectary and the spun larvae allowed to remain in covered 

 refrigerator pans where hibernation takes place as a normal procedure, 

 due to low temperatures. Hibernation may be broken by the end of 

 December, the spun larvae being placed in a refrigerator at 55 F. for 

 about 3 weeks and then brought out into the emergence cage. A gradual 

 change in temperature is found better than a sudden change. 



There are numerous pitfalls along the path of fruit moth breeding. 

 Ants and spiders in the greenhouse oviposition cages and spiders in the 

 dark emergence cage may cause trouble. Parasites may develop unless 

 pans are kept covered, Dibrachys boucheanus being especially trouble- 

 some at Connecticut for two years. There is need in the fall to control 

 temperatures since at that time larval hibernating tendencies increase 

 and temperatures fluctuating below 6o° F. may cause hibernation of 

 developing larvae. Once hibernation has started, we have been unsuc- 

 cessful in breaking it until after approximately two months have elapsed. 

 Oviposition-cage temperatures at dusk are very important if a fair ratio 

 of increase in numbers is to be maintained. 



Fruit rot is another difficulty causing serious losses of larvae. Apples 

 from different sources rot differently; that is, some will produce a wet 

 slimy mass which apparently drowns the larvae before they can escape 

 to other fruit or reach maturity. Other apples rot with less moisture, 

 becoming pithy or corky, allowing the larvae to escape when the fruit 

 becomes unsuitable for food. Green Baldwins are plentiful in Connecti- 

 cut, keep well in storage, and are used by us almost exclusively. Other 

 varieties, however, may be employed. 



In refrigeration of spun larvae or eggs, it is necessary to guard against 

 the loss of moisture which may prevent transformation of the larvae 

 and hatching of the eggs. 



Maintenance of seedlings for use in the oviposition cages requires 

 a certain amount of thought. By use of fertilizers and cleaning off any 

 eggs laid upon the stems of the seedlings, these plants may be used at 



