1C2 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 15 



THE FALSE APPLE RED-BUG {LYGIDEA MENDAX) IN PENN- 

 SYLVANIA 



By S. W. Frost, State College, Pa. 



The apple red-bugs are destructive insects in all apple sections of 

 Pennsylvania. In spite of thorough spraying m.any orchardists have 

 reported a failure to reduce appreciably the amount of injury by these 

 pests. In view of this situation a study of the seasonal activities of the 

 red-bugs was made with the result that the eggs were found to hatch 

 somewhat earlier in m.ost years than was generally supposed. Our 

 records for a five year period confirm the earlier observations and it is 

 now obvious that the pink spray comes too early to control the false 

 red-bug. 



The apple red-bugs were first noted as pests in Pennsylvania in 1912 

 when they were numerous enough to attract attention by the orchardists. 

 Since that time they have increased rapidly in numbers and dam.age due 

 to their work has been reported from all sections of Pennsylvania where 

 apples are grown. During 1918 the damage in some orchards of Penn- 

 sylvania was as much as 80 percent. In 1919 there were few orchards 

 in which susceptible varieties of apples were grown that did not suffer 

 a greater or less amount of injury. The season of 1920, however, was 

 notable for an overwhelming outbreak of the pests in Pennsylvania. 

 During 1921, likewise, the amount of injury ran high in some orchards. 



Since the publication of Professor C. R. Crosby's bulletin on the 

 Red-bug, there has been no extensive work published on tl^ese insects 

 to guide the fruit growers in their attempts to control the pest. The 

 discovery in recent years in Pennsylvania, as well as other Eastern states, 

 of certain facts regarding the life history and activities of these insects 

 lend valuable suggestions for better control practices and noticeably 

 hange the original recom-m.endations. 



Species Causing Injury to Apple 



As in other Eastern states, two species of Red-bugs have been found 

 in Pennsylvania attacking the apple; the true red -bug, Heterocordylus , 

 waZ^m^Reut., and the false red-bug, Lygidea mendax Reut. The former 

 species is not abundant in Pennsylvania and is not as injurious as the 

 false red-bug. _ Heterocordylus nialinns Reut., therefore cannot be 

 considered at present as an injurious pest of apple in our state. Until 

 the true red-bug is found more abundant, the timing of the spray appli- 

 cations should be made according to the habits of the false red-bug, 

 Lygidea niandax Reut. 



