APPLE TX SECTS 



29 



Fig. 2( 



Red bug nymph feeding on a newly set 

 apple. Much enlarged. 



ing of the blossom 



end which is not 



present in typical 



red bug injury. 

 The life histories 



of the two species 



are very similar. 



The dull whitish, 



strongly curved, 



slightly compressed 



eggs are inserted 



their full length 



into the bark on the 



smaller branches 



(Figs. 27 and 28). 



They hatch soon after the opening of the leaves of the fruit 



buds and the minute, tomato-red nymphs at once begin to 



puncture the tender 

 leaves. The clusters of 



fmji.*v«fc .* minute reddish dots 



' ^ g Vf ^ caused by these punc- 



tures are quite conspicu- 

 ous and are usually the 

 first indication of the 

 presence of the nymphs. 

 The injury to the foliage 

 is very slight. They 

 may feed on the leaves 

 until full grown but usu- 

 ally attack the fruit as soon as it sets (Fig. 26). 

 In the case of very small apples, the four sharp 

 bristles of the beak penetrate quite to the center, 

 the surrounding tissue becomes discolored and hardened and 

 the apple is ruined. 



Fig. 27. — Eggs of H. ma- 

 liniis inserted in a slit in the 

 bark at the base of a fruit spur. 



Fig. 28. — 

 Eggs of L. 

 mendax in len- 

 ticels on a 

 two -year -old 

 apple branch. 



