APPLE INSECTS — BUDS AND FOLIAGE 55 



Climatic conditions undoubtedly have; much to do with the 

 " ups and downs " of this insect. Excessively dry weather 

 in April and May favors the development, and heavy rains 

 often knock many from the leaves in June, and they never get 

 back. Many of the palmer- worms are also killed by the maggot 

 of a tiny parasitic fly known as Apanteles sp. Palmer- worms 

 can be controlled with one or two applications of arsenate of 

 lead, 4 pounds in 100 gallons of water or dilute lime-sulfur 

 solution. The application should be made at the first appear- 

 ance of the caterpillars in early June. 



References 

 Cornell A^r. Exp. Sta. Bull. 187. 1901. 

 N. Y. (Geneva) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 212, pp. 10-22. 1902. 



Click-beetles 



Corymbites caricinus Germar 

 Corymhites tarsalis Melsheimer 

 Corymbites cylindriformis Herbst 



These three slender brown click-beetles, from f to ^ an inch 

 in length, sometimes swarm on to apple and pear trees in the 

 spring and attack the opening buds and the flowers, denuding 

 orchards of blossoms in some instances. Thus far their ravages 

 have been confined to Nova Scotia, British Columbia and other 

 localities in Canada. In their larval stage as wireworms, these 

 click-beetles doubtless bred on the roots of grasses, either in the 

 orchards if in sod or in near-by fields, so that thorough cultiva- 

 tion in late fall would help much to reduce their numbers. As 

 the beetles drop quickly and feign death when the tree is jarred, 

 they can be readily captured on sheets or plum curculio-catchers. 

 Or many of them would doubtless succumb to a strong poison 

 spray of arsenate of lead, 6 or 8 pounds in 100 gallons. 



Reference 

 Fletcher, Rept. Exp. Farms Ottawa 1895, p. 149, 1896. 



