44 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



CALENDAR OF INSECT PESTS AND PLANT 



DISEASES. 



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



(Under the above heading- the author aims to give brief, popular descriptions 

 and methods of controlling insect pests and plants as nearly as possible just prior 

 to or at the time when the suggestions given should be carried into effect by the 

 growers. The material is, for the most part, compiled from the various state and 

 Government publications.) 



DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECTS. 



The Peach Twig-borer. 



The peacli is the principal host of this destructive insect and is 

 damaged by the immature larvffi burrowing into the young buds and 

 tender shoots, besides later on entering the fruit at the stem end, often 

 completely encircling the pit rendering the fruit unsaleable as a first- 

 class product. The larva varies in color from a dusky white to a dark 

 brown, the head and first three body segments being black. It is rarely 

 over one half inch in length after becoming full grown. 



Briefly the life history of this insect is as follows : There are three 

 generations a year or less according to the locality. The generation of 

 moths which emerges around the last of July gives rise to the very 

 young larvge which make minute burrows in the bark, principally located 

 in the crotches of the limbs. These burrows can be located by the tiny 

 silken tubes made of chewed bark which project upwards. The small 

 larvas pass the winter in these burrows and come out in early spring to 

 feed on the tender shoots and starting buds. They become full grown 

 about May, passing the resting stage in the crevices in the bark of 

 trees. The adults emerge about seven days later and a new brood of 

 worms results which do their greatest damage to the fruit. 



The use of a commercial preparation of lime sulphur diluted one to 

 ten when the blossoms are just opening has given excellent results. 



Codling Moth. 



Although the time is not at hand for applying the first spray against 

 the codling moth, perhaps a word or two concerning this insect will not 

 be out of place. The codling moth (apple worm) is the most destruc- 

 tive insect to the apple or pear if no control measures are practiced. 

 Good thorough spraying at the proper times determines whether the 

 apple or pear grower shall have clean or wormy fruit, and little or no 

 profit or a fair return. 



The codling moth is now passing the resting stage in cracks in the 

 bark of trees, under trash, in packing-houses and other places of 

 shelter. The adults will be out to deposit their small whitish eggs on 

 the leaves and twigs soon after the trees are in bloom. In order to 

 destroy the small whitish or pink worms before they enter the young 

 fruit, a thorough application of arsenate of lead, five pounds to one 

 hundred gallons of water should be made as soon as the petals of the 

 blossoms fall and before the calyx cups close. Practically 80 per cent 

 of the worms enter the fruit through the calyx end, so that the necessity 

 of filling the calyx cup with the poison is obvious. 



