86 



FRUIT INSECTS 



The Fall Canker-worm 



Alsophila pometaria Harris 



Although not distinguished from the spring canker-worm 

 until 1873, this fall canker-worm doubtless has been injurious 



in the New England states 



for half a century or more. 

 It is now common in 

 Canada and throughout 

 the northeastern United 

 States, extending west- 

 ward into Ohio ; and in 

 1891, orchards of apple, 

 prune, plum, apricot and 

 cherry were ravaged in 

 western California, ap- 

 FiG. 87. — Fall canker-worm, male moth ( X 2) . parently by this eastern 



fall canker-worm. It is often de- 

 structive in apple orchards, some- 

 times working with the spring 

 canker-worm or on neighboring 

 orchard or shade trees ; the two 

 species have worked separately* for 

 several years on elm trees about a 

 mile apart near Ithaca, N. Y. 



The fall canker-worm is easily 

 distinguished in all its stages from 

 the spring species, and differs also 

 in its life-habits. It derived its 

 common name from the fact that 

 the moths usually emergen and lay 

 their eggs in the fall, mostly in 

 November; often a few, however, 



Fig. 



88. — Fall canker-worm, 

 male moth (X2|). 



fe- 



