86 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



LIFE HISTORY AND CONTROL OF CODLING MOTH. 



LEON B. GARDNER. 



(Awarded third prize.) 



The codling- moth is tlie most serious insect enemy of the ai)])le that 

 we have to contend witli. It is a native of Enrope and lias come across 

 to the United States withont its natnral enemies. It, therefore, re- 

 quires a great deal of work to keep it under control. 



It passes the winter in wliat is knoAvn as the larva stage, spun n}) in 

 a cocoon read}^ to change to the true pnpal condition early in spring. 

 The cocoons are usually found underneath ruhbish, in old a])ple barrels, 

 or under loose pieces of bark. They are about one-half inch long, oval 

 in form, and gray in color. About the middle of May most all of the 

 adult mothers are out. They fly around for a week or two and soon 

 deposit their eggs, usually near the flower. The moth is a delicate little 

 creature. About three-eights of an inch long, Avith wavy transverse lines 

 on the front wings, the hind parts being somewhat darker, Avith bronzed 

 patches. They so resemble the bark of the tree that it is almost im- 

 possible to tell them from the bark. 



By the latter part of May most of the eggs have hatched and about 

 SO per cent of the Avorms have entered the apple at the calyx end. 

 The Avorm Avorks its Avay into the ai»ple, eating as it goes. When full 

 groAvn it comes out at the side. They then spin up a cocoon and remain 

 there until about the middle of July, when the second brood of moths 

 come out. They, as the first brood have done, soon deposit their eggs. 

 By the latter part of July most of the adult AA^orms of the second brood 

 are out. This time about 80 per cent of the Avorms enter the apple at 

 the side, usually where tAvo apples touch each other, or where an apple 

 and a leaf or an api)le and a branch come in contact. 



There is sometimes a third brood in Michigan. If so, it Avould come 

 about the latter part of September. 



Now as I have said there are tAA^o periods of actual dcA'Clopment. One 

 about the first of June and the other about the latter part of July. It 

 therefore remains that there are tAvo periods at Avhich spraying Avill be 

 most elfectiA^e. The first spray should be about the time the stamens 

 Avither, using a poison of course. One should take the greatest care to 

 see that they get the spray into the calyx cap. The second spray should 

 be about the first Aveek in August, taking great pains to get the apples 

 thoroughly covered Avith the poison. 



