464 



Ingerson (H. G.). The Striped Peach Worm. — U.S. Dept. Agric, 

 Washington. B.C., Bull. no. 599, 16tli March 1918, 16' pp., 

 4 plates. [Received 20th August 1918.] 



GelecMa confusella, Cham, {persicaeella, Murt.) (striped peach 

 worm) attacks the foliage of the peach and sand cherry {Primus 

 puniila), the larvae spinning silken webs, usually at the terminals of 

 the branches, causing the leaves to dry up and drop off. Little 

 attention has been paid to this pest ; the present bulletin records 

 observations on the hfe-history in 1915 and 1916, made in open-air 

 insectaries in which glass battery jars were used as rearing cages. 

 There is one complete generation and a partial second in the year. 

 The earliest emergence of moths took place on 22nd May and continued 

 until 14th July, the maximum numbers appearing on 29th June. 

 Eggs were deposited both on the fruit and under the scales surrounding 

 the attachment of the peach to the stem, and on sand cherry under 

 the bud-scales and in the axils of leaves. The average length of life 

 of the adults is 10|- days, though the periods vary considerably. 

 They are not often seen in the field because of their small size and 

 inconspicuous colouring. The incubation period for these eggs 

 varied from 10 to 19 days. Larvae feed from 3 to 6 weeks, but do 

 more damage by enveloping the foliage in their webs than by actual 

 feeding. Cocoons are constructed in the soil at a depth of about 

 J inch, and are made of a white silken web enclosed in particles of 

 soil. The average time of pupation is 12 days, the adults of the first 

 generation emerging about 10th August. Oviposition occurs within 

 a few days, the average length of the stages of the second generation 

 being 15 days for the egg and 52 days for the larval feeding period. 

 Some of the larvae of this generation pupate within the webbed 

 fohage, in which case no cocoons are formed. Tables are given showing 

 the duration of various stages of many individuals studied. 



Many parasites of G. confusella were reared during these studies, 

 including the Ichneumonids, Angitia discoocellellae, Vier., which was 

 by far the most numerous, Cremastus forbesii, Weed, Cremastus sp., 

 and Epiunis indagator, Walsh ; the Braconids, Apanteles gelechiae, 

 Vier., Ascogaster carpocapsae, Vier., and Epirhyssalus atriceps, Ashm. ; 

 the Tachinids, Exorista pyste, Wlk., and Frontina ancilla, Wlk., 

 which was the most numerous of all the parasites, and the Bombyliid, 

 Anthrax lateralis, Say. The occurrence of G. confusella may be so 

 local as to permit of the cutting out of the infested terminals as a 

 means of control, and orchards sprayed regularly with arsenicals will 

 seldom show any infestation ; but if special spraying should be 

 necessary, a single application of 2 lb. lead arsenate paste or 1 lb. 

 powder to 50 IT.S. gals, water to which 2 lb. freshly slaked hme has 

 been added, will satisfactorily control the insect. 



Britton (W. E.). Spray Calendar. Insect and Fungous Pests of 

 Cultivated 'P\2ini5.— Connecticut Agric. Expt. Sta., New Haven, 

 Bull. no. 199, [n. d.], pp. 53-97, numerous figs. [Received 20tli 

 August 1918.] 



This spray calendar includes brief descriptions, with preventive 

 measures, of such msects as most frequently cause injury to the common 

 plants cultivated in Connecticut and other north-eastern states. 



