THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 81 



CALENDAR OF INSECT PESTS AND PLANT 



DISEASES. 



By E. J. VosLER, Assistant Superintendent, State Insectary. 



[Under the above heading the author aims to give brief, popular descriptions and 

 methods of controlling insect pests and plants as near as possible just prior to or at 

 the time when the suggestions given should be carried into effect by the growers ] 



DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECTS. 



The Almond Mite. 



Although the mites are not insects they may be just as injurious in 

 the oreliard. Tlie almond mite or clover mite, as it is sometimes termed, 

 is one of the more important pests of the almond, as well as many other 

 deciduous fruits. The young mites, smaller than the head of a pin, 

 are red and become brownish on development into the adult stage. They 

 deposit their egg masses in the fall on the twigs. These hatch in the 

 early spring and as the mites reproduce in great numbers much damage 

 often results to the tender growth of the tree. The commercial lime- 

 sulphur solution with flour paste as a spreader seems to be more effec- 

 tive than the dry flowers of sulphur in the control of this mite. The 

 formula used by Mr. W. H. Volek consists of water, one hundred gal- 

 lons; flour paste, four gallons; lime-sulphur solution, five quarts, and 

 iron-sulphate, two pounds. The lime-sulphur and the flour paste are 

 mixed in the tank before adding the iron-sulphate. Thorough agitation 

 is essential to good results. 



The Pear-leaf Blister Mite. 

 Another mite destructive to fruit is the pear-leaf blister mite. It 

 causes the reddish or greenish spots to appear on the young foliage of 

 the pear and apple. Later on the spots become brownish and dead, 

 impairing the leaf functions to a large extent, if the mite happens to 

 appear in great numbers. They may be seen during the dormant season 

 on the trees imder the bud scales and deposit their eggs, which soon 

 develop into young, in the interior of the newly developed leaves. The 

 only stage in which the mite can be commercially controlled is the adult, 

 as the eggs and young are inside the leaves where no spray will reach 

 them. Only severe cases will warrant a special spraying. A. L. Quain- 

 tance^ recommends lime sulphur washes, using the commercial prepara- 

 tion or the home-made, which consists of lime, 20 pounds, sulphur, 15 

 pounds, and water to make 50 gallons. The application should be made 

 just before the foliage is out and must be thoroughly applied. 



The Spring Canker-worm. 



According to Essig, the spring canker-worm is distributed throughout 

 the apple growing sections of the central part of the State.- It attacks 

 the foliage of the elm. apricot, cherry and prune. The caterpillars 

 often cause the entire defoliation of their host. Early in the spring, 

 often in the winter, the wingless female moth crawls up the tree 

 trunk to deposit its egg masses on the bark. Tree tanglefoot or any 

 adhesive bands which will prevent the ascension of the female moth into 

 the upper portion of the tree will be effective. These should be applied 

 Dear th e first of March. The egg masses will then be placed below the 



•A. L. Quaintance, Circular 154, Bur. Ent., U. S. D. A., p. 6. 

 ^E. O. Essig, Injurious and Beneficial Insects of Cal., p. 185. 



