INSECTS INFESTING THE APRICOT. 133 



At a later date, June 26, the orchardist writes : " They are 

 now feeding on the weeds around the orchard." 



Note. — This saw-fly, if not identical with the European 

 saw-fly, Dosytheus lateritius — Klug., very closely resembles 

 that species. The larval history of this insect is unknown to 

 us at the present time. 



Remedy. — Spraying the foliage with No. 5, or 7, or 65, will 

 protect it from the ravages of this pest. 



CHAPTER LXXIII. 



The Apricot Leaf-roller. (Cal.) 



(Dichcelia Calif or nianu. — Walsingham.) 



Order, Lepidoptera ; Family, Tortricid^. 



[A small caterpillar, living in a rolled leaf, and feeding upon 

 the new leaves and growth of the apricot tree. It also feeds 

 on the fruit after it sets forth from the bloom.] 



This caterpillar appeared in several orchards in the Spring 

 of 1882. In one instance it nearly destroyed the entire crop 

 of apricots, by feeding upon the fruit. I did not succeed in 

 rearing the moth last year, but this season I have been suc- 

 cessful. It has attacked several orchards this Spring, 1883 ; in 

 one case young trees planted last Spring from the dormant 

 bud, were nearly denuded of their foliage by this pest. In 

 other cases it has fed on the fruit. The caterpillar first attacks 

 the fruit when about the size of a small marble — first fasten- 

 ing a leaf to it. At first it feeds upon the epidermis, or skin, 

 but as the caterpillar grows larger it eats into the fruit. When 

 not feeding, it returns to its nest. At other times it folds a 

 leaf and feeds upon the new shoots and leaves near its nest — 

 in some cases nearly cutting off the former. 



The body of the caterpillar (Fig. Ill, Plate 1) is yellowish- 

 green, with a dorsal line of a darker shade ; head and cervical 

 shield brownish-black, with a pale space between them ; spira- 

 cles, ringed with brown ; length, seven to eight lines. 



The perfect insect (Fig. Ill, Plate 1 ) emerged from the pupa 



