10 



until the following- summer, the adult fly appearinir early or late, 

 depending apparently on whether the larva' infested sunnner, fall, or 

 winter fruit. 



INSECTS WHICH MAY BE 3IISTAKEN FOR THE APPLE MAGGOT. 



There Avill often be found in apples partly or wholly decayed, as 

 from the work of the apple maggot or other causes, larvte which 

 might very readily be mistaken for those of the species under consid- 

 eration. Principally the larvae of two kinds of flies will thus be 

 found, namel}', the vine-loving pomace fly {Drosophila ampelophila 

 Loew) — a small clear-winged, red-eyed fly — and the pretty pomace 

 fly {DrosofMla amosna Loew), similar to the former, but with black 

 spots on the wings. These insects are of interest as likely to be mis- 

 taken for the apple maggot and hence the cause of needless alarm. 

 They are of little economic importance, though undoubtedly hasten- 

 ing the decay of fruits. 



PREVENTIVE MEASURES. 



The apjDle maggot has proved to be an unusually troublesome in- 

 sect to combat successfully. The eggs are deposited beneath the skin 

 of the fruit, within which also the larva feeds until full grown. The 

 pupal stage is passed just under the soil, or around the roots of grass 

 in sod land, and the flies do not feed in a way to permit of their 

 destruction. Spraying with arsenicals, so efl'ective against the codling 

 moth or apple worm, is for this pest quite useless. 



The insect, however, ma}^ be attacked in two important ways. As 

 stated, the larvae do not leave the fruit until the latter has ripened 

 and fallen to the ground. The i^romjit gathering and destruction of 

 the windfalls, before they are deserted b}^ the maggots, would serve 

 to keep the insects greatl}^ reduced, amounting to practical extermina- 

 tion if thoroughly carried out. This practice has long been recom- 

 mended by entomologists, and comprises the most effective measure 

 of controlling the pest at present known. Greatest benefit will come 

 from the practice when carried out uniformly by the orchardists of a 

 community. Allowing the wormy fruit to decay on the ground is 

 most favorable to multiplication of the apple maggot. Orchardists 

 having this pest to contend with should arrange to destroy the in- 

 fested fruit promptl}^ after it falls, and this may be accomplished in 

 whatever way is most practicable under individual conditions. 



Picking up the fruit by hand will often prove feasible and can be 

 done by children, but great care is necessary that the work be done 

 thoroughly. The gatherings should be made daily if possible, or at 

 least every two or three days. The fruit may be fed to stock, taking 



[Cir. 101] 



