THE PLUM WEEVIL ATTACKING APPLES. I3 



In reply to your questions: i. The fungus was first noticed this year. 

 2. I think that the fungus is found without the insect burrows. 3. The 

 fruit does not fall when infested, but adheres firmly to the tree. 4. I 

 find them in great numbers in all stages of infection. I have several 

 hundred trees bearing, from which I could pick several bushels of dis- 

 eased fruit. 5. I send inclosed several affected twigs, independent of 

 fruit. You may observe that it does not affect the foliage, there being 

 even perfect leaves in the fungus growth. It is (juite serious, as it fre- 

 quently continues until all the foliage is almost entirely ruined." 



The c[uince twigs sent by Mr. Cook were affected by the same fungus 

 that had attacked the fruit, in some examples showing as a thick irreg- 

 ular swelling upon one side of a twig, and in others completely sur- 

 rounding it for an extent usually of about an inch. The larvae had 

 also attacked these fungus swellings, and had burrowed them with their 

 channels, disclosing their presence and their operations by their excre- 

 menta adhering to the surface. 



A fimg US-feeding fly. — x\ large number of minute larvae of some 

 species of fly were associated with the fungus, feeding upon the orange- 

 colored spores. Their maximum length was about one-tenth of an inch. 

 They were pointed at both ends, but a little more acutely at the head 

 Their color was an orange nearly as bright as their food. Some had 

 already transformed to the pupal stage, and a few flies which escaped 

 from the box when it was first opened, were in all probability, the newly 

 emerged insects. None of them were secured for examination. The 

 species has probably not been named, for of the number of Diptera 

 which are known as spore-feeders, but few have received study. 



Remedy for the fungus. — The only means, so far as we know, for pre- 

 venting the spread of this fungus, is to remove and destroy by burning or 

 otherwise, every twig or quince giving indication of the attack. It is 

 possible that dusting the tree with flowers of sulphur might be of ser- 

 vice in arresting the disease. 



The Plum Weevil Attacking Apples. 



Apples bearing the distinctive crescent mark of Conotrachclus nenuphar 

 and quite badly scarred with them, were received June 26, 1882, from 

 Mr. H. J. Foster, of East Palmyra, N. Y. The fruit was shriveled and 

 discolored on one side, a^jparently from several contiguous punctures of 

 the weevil made for the purpose of feedmg. Upon cutting into the 

 apples, the young larvae of the weevil were found. 



On making incjuiry of Mr. Foster if the attack of the plum curcu- 

 lio upon the apples in his vicinity might not be the result of the scarcity 

 of their natural food, he informed me that there were Very few plum 



