1917 



EiVTOMOLOGlCAL SOCIETY 



133 



Because of the proximity of the principal fruit districts of the State to those 

 of Ontario, Canada, whatever is of interest in the way of insect pests here is also 

 of considerable interest to Ontario entomologists and fruit growers. It was with 

 this thought in mind that the writer chose to discuss briefly the fruit tree leaf- 

 roller in New' York, 



This leaf-roller is not an insect new to this country for it has been known 

 since 1863 when Walker described it and snice 18S)G, at least, it has been put among 

 the enemies of the apple in New Y''ork. It was not, however, until 1911 that the 

 leaf-roller began to attract particular attention in this State. It furnishes a fine 

 example of an insect previously unimportant which has suddenly and inexplicably 

 multiplied to an enormous degree and reached tlie rank of a serious pest at a single 

 bound, for during the seasons of 1912, 1913, 1914, and 1915, it caused serious and 

 rather widespread injury in Western New York. In addition, it became unusually 

 abundant and injurious in Colorado and New Mexico during the same period. 

 During the past season it was much less in evidence but no prediction can be made 

 regarding it for it may break out again at any favorable time. 



■ Habits axd Injuries. 



The larvre appear as the buds are bursting and begin to attack the unfolding 

 leaves. They bend the leaves over and tie them together with silk. Within 

 this sort of nest the larvre live and eat the leaves. As soon as the blooms 



Leaves tied together by the leaf-roller. 



Work of leaf-roller on pears. 



appear the larvae begin to eat off the blossom stems and tie them together with 

 silken threads, along with the leaves surrounding the blossom cluster. This 

 webbing and tying together of the blossom clusters is a most pernicious habit, 

 because it interferes seriously with spraying for the Codling Moth. In one 

 Baldwin orchard in which the larvaj were very abundant, the blossom clusters Avere 

 so webbed together and covered over with silk, dried petals and leaves that it was 

 almost impossible to get the spray mixture into the calyx cup. As soon as the 

 voung apples or pears begin to .<et they are tied together witli silk, while the larvae 



