128 INSECTS INFESTING THE PEACH TREE. 



CHAPTER LXVTI. 



The Peach Moth. (Cal.) 



(Anarsia lineatella. — Zeller. ) 



Order, LEPinoPTERA ; Family, Tineid.^. 



[A small reddish-pink larva, from four to five lines in 

 length, horing into the fruit of the peach and apricot ; also, 

 into the buds and the new growth of the peach.] 



In 1882 the larva (Fig. 106, Plate 1) of this species was 

 found boring into peaches (Fig. 107, Plate 1) and apricots in 

 several of the fruit-growing districts of this State. The moth 

 or perfect insect is small ; length, three lines ; spread of wings, 

 about six lines ; color, dark-gray ; antennae gray, ringed with 

 brown ; wings gray, with brown streaks ; hind wings, smoky- 

 gray ; cilia, gray. Larva length, nearly four lines ; color, red- 

 dish-pink ; head, brownish-black. 



I found a larva in a peach early in June, 1882. It left the 

 fruit on the 13th, and was changed to a pupa by the 16th. On 

 the 25th of June, the perfect moth appeared. The larva in 

 apricots matured to perfect insect in about the same length of 

 time. I have also found the larva of this moth in peacli buds, 

 also in the end of the new growth. In the latter it can be 

 easily detected, as the new leaves present a withered appear- 

 ance. The larva passes its transformations in the debris in 

 the crotches of the trees, or on the groimd am(»ng fallen 

 leaves, etc. I have found them more than half grown in the 

 buds in January, but apparently in a semi-dormant state. 



The variety found in the fruit of the apricot and i)each is 

 lighter in color than that found in the buds and new growth. 

 The perfect insect (Fig. 106, Plate 1) that is reared from the 

 fruit-eating larva, is lighter colored than those raised from the 

 bud or new growth larva. 



There are ])roba])ly three broods each year. From the 

 limited opportunities I have had to investigate the natural 

 history and habits of this pest, I am inclined to think that a 

 part at least of the so-called sap disease, or gum oozing from 



