FURTHER NOTES ON LASPEYRESIA MOLESTA^ 



By W. B. Wood, Entomological Assistant, and E. R. Selkregg, Scientific Assistant, 

 Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations, Bureau of Entomology, United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture 



INTRODUCTION 



Since the publication of a preliminary paper in the Journal of Agri- 

 cultural Research/ investigations on the life history, habits, and control 

 of the oriental peach moth {Laspeyresia molesta Busck) have been under 

 way and additional information has been obtained on these points, as 

 well as on its origin, distribution, and food plants. 



The fears expressed in the pubUcation cited, namely, that this insect 

 might become a dangerous enemy of deciduous fruits, seem to have been 

 well founded. Owing to the number of generations developing in a single 

 season it is particularly hard to control, and this fact, together with its 

 wide range of food plants, would seem to make it a pest of as great im- 

 portance as its near relative, the codling moth, Laspeyresia pomonella 

 Linnaeus, should it become generally distributed throughout the fruit- 

 growing regions of the country. It is quite probable that it will even- 

 tually become widely distributed because of its fruit-feeding habits and 

 its manner of hibernation if measures can not be taken to confine it to 

 its present limits. 



ORIGINAL HOME 



There is now Uttle doubt that this insect has come to us from Japan, 

 probably in shipments of flowering cherries, or peaches and other fruits, 

 received in the last six or eight years. Where infestations have been 

 foimd in widely separated locaUties, shipments of flowering cherries from 

 Japan have, in every instance, been traced to these points. Evidence of 

 this character first led to the belief that the insect came from that country. 



In correspondence with Mr. C. Harukawa, of the Ohara Agricultural 

 Institute, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan, it was learned that a similar 

 insect was doing considerable injury to peaches and pears in that country. 



1 The work on which this paper is based was carried on by the writers under the direction of Dr. A. L- 

 Quaintance, who supervised the operations throughout the season. For assistance in the preparation 

 of the paper the writers express their thanks to Mr. Carl Heinrich, who drew up the description of the 

 larva, furnished the information in regard to characters for separating Laspeyresia molesta from the larvae 

 of similar insects, and approved the drawings of the insect; to Miss Margaret Moles for her careful work 

 in making the drawings; and to Mr. J. H. Paine for the photographs here used. 



2 Quaintance, A. h., and Wood, W. B. laspeyresia molesta, an important new insect enemy 

 OF THE PEACH, /n Jour. Agr. Res., V. 7, no. 8, p. J73-378, pi. 26-31. 1916. 



Journal of Agricultural Research, Vol. XIII, No. 



Washington, D. C. Apr. i, 1918 



na Key No. K 6j 



(59) 



