The More Important Apple Insects. 57 
SERPENTINE LEAF-MINER.” 
Fruit growers, particularly in the New England States, have frequently had 
their attention attracted to long serpentine mines on the upper surface of the 
leaves. These mines (fig. 116, A) are constructed by the so-called serpentine 
Jeaf-miner, which is more an object of curiosity than of economic importance. 
The insect winters in the larva stage within a small brownish cocoon (fig. 
116, C), which is usually attached to a twig or in the crotch of limbs. In the 
spring the full-grown dark-green larve (fig. 116, G, H, I), measuring nearly 
one-eighth inch in length, transform to greenish pups, from which develop the 
small, dark purplish moths, with crimson, yellow-tufted heads (fig. 116, D, E). 
The eges are very minute and are deposited on the foliage, giving rise to larvie 
which mine in the leaves in characteristic serpentine fashion. 
The insect is controlled by the same measures effective against the trumpet 
leaf-miner (p. 54). 
APPLE BUCCULATRIX.* 
In the course of the winter pruning the attention of the fruit grower is some- 
times attracted to the small, whitish, ribbed cocoons (fig. 117, A) of the apple 
buceculatrix. These measure about one-fourth of an inch in length and are 
often built side by side, usually on the lower side of small branches and twigs. 
Although widely distributed from the Atlantic coast to the Rocky Mountains, 
it is seldom that this insect causes important injury, except perhaps in instances 
where the trees have been long neglected. The apple bucculatrix, or ribbed 
cocoon-maker of the apple, as it is sometimes called, is essentially an apple 
pest, but has also been recorded as feeding on docks, alfalfa, and certain grasses. 
The winter is passed as a pupa within the cocoon. Early in the spring, about 
the time the foliage begins to expand, the very small, delicate moths (fig. 117, B) 
commence to issue and deposit their minute, pale greenish eggs (fig. 117, C) on 
the lower side of the leaves. The moths are light brown, with heavily fringed 
wings, which have an expanse of about one-tenth of an inch. Upon hatching the 
young larvze eat into the leaves and make small mines (fig. 117, D), somewhat less 
than an inch in length. They then desert the mines and construct on the surface 
of the leaves small flimsy cocoons in which they molt. After feeding upon the 
leaf surface for a few days they make a second cocoon for molting purposes, 
after which ‘they continue their surface feeding for a period of about a week. 
When the foliage is attacked by large numbers of the caterpillars it will become 
more or less brown and shriveled. The full-grown larvee seek a place to build 
their cocoons, which may be constructed on the foliage, fruit, or twigs. In 
northern New England there is only one generation, but farther south two 
senerations occur annually, the second brood of moths issuing during the latter 
part of the summer. The life history and habits of the second brood are similar 
to those described for the first brood. 
Orchards regularly sprayed for the more important apple insects will seldom 
require special treatment for this pest. The dormant spray treatment with 
lime-sulphur solution will aid in destroying the overwintering pupze. and the 
summer applications of lead arsenate will kill the larvee that feed on the leaf 
surface. After pruning the trees the wood should be burned before spring, thus 
destroying the overwintering pup. 
42 Nepticula pomivorella Packard. *% Bucculatric pomifoliella Clemens. 
