50 



FRUIT INSECTS 



about J of an inch long attached to the twigs of its food-plants, 

 which are the apple especially, but also include the quince, 



plum and cherry. Early in 

 April the little cases move 

 and the caterpillars bore into 

 and devour the swelling buds, 

 expanding leaves, and espe- 

 cially the flowers. For four 

 days about May 1, the cases 

 may be found again fastened 

 to the twigs while the cater- 

 pillars are molting inside. 

 Unlike the cigar-case-bearer, 

 this insect does not make a 

 complete new case as it grows, 

 but simply makes silken ad- 

 ditions to the ends and sides 

 of the old case. Most of their 

 feeding is done openly and not 

 as miners, irregular holes being eaten in the leaves, often skeleton- 

 izing them. The caterpillars never leave their cases, but 

 project themselves out far enough to get a foothold, then begin 

 to eat, holding the 

 case at a consider- 

 able angle from the 

 leaf. They are most 

 destructive on the 

 flowers, where they 

 eat the petals and 

 stems, thus destroy- 

 ing the prospective 

 crop. Sometimes 



they also bore into the young fruits. In the latter part of May 

 they cease feeding, securely fasten the pistol-shaped cases, now 



Fig. 



Pist()l-c;i«c-l)earcrs attached 

 for pupation. 



Pistol-case-bearer moth (X 5). 



