J64 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



larva, when first hatched, is yellowish-white, has a prominent head and 

 antennal protuberances and is legless. When full-grown, there is 

 no sign of a head or antenna?, the larva appearing like a headless and 

 legless, white or pinkish maggot, with very distinct body-segmentation. 

 It averages about £ i ncn i* 1 length. 



Life History. — The female of this parasite stings the larva of the 

 codlin-moth in its cocoon and deposits a single egg in each. Each 



female may lay as many as one 

 hundred eggs in this way. The 

 larva passes through five stages 

 before becoming full-grown, which 



Fig. 361. — Larva? of the codlin- 

 moth parasite, Calliephialtes messor 

 Grav., feeding upon the larva? of 

 the codlin-moth within the cocoons, 

 portions of which have been re- 

 moved to expose the insects. (After 

 Smith and Vosler, Photo by author, 

 Mo. Bui. Cal. Hort. Com.) 



Fig. 362. — Adult female of the 

 codlin-moth parasite, Calliephialtes 

 m essor Grav. Enlarged twice. (After 

 Smith and Vosler. Drawing by 

 Birdnekoff, Mo. Bui. Cal. Hort. 

 Com. ) 



require from about twenty to thirty-five clays. It then spins a thin 

 yellowish-brown cocoon in the cocoon of the larva of the codlin-moth 

 and in from thirteen to twenty-four days emerges as an adult. The 

 adults may live as long as three months, but the average length is 

 about two months. Under favorable conditions there are probably 

 tw r o or three broods a year. 



Distribution. — This insect was imported from Spain by Mr. Geo. 

 Compere. It has been reared for many years by the State Insectary 

 and sent out in small lots to many apple-growing sections of the State. 

 It has not become sufficiently established anywhere to be a factor in 

 the control of the codlin-moth. For this reason the State Insectary 

 has ceased to continue the breeding of the parasite for commercial 

 purposes. 



Host. — The larva of the codlin-moth is the common host. 



