S3 



blossom cluster are unfolding; those of the false red bug hatch whi e the trees 

 are in blossom. The young, brilliant red nymphs at first feed on the leaves 

 which they puncture, causing reddish dots. They then attack the young 

 apples as soon as they are formed. In feeding, the nymph inserts the bristles 

 of its beak quite to the center of the young fruit. The tissue around the punc- 

 ture hardens and turns black. Some of the punctured apples soon fall to 

 the ground, a few of them dry up and remain on the trees until the following 

 spring while others mature but are knotty and unmarketable. The nymphs 

 pass through five immature stages and acquire wings at the last molt. 

 The nymphs of the false red bug are of brighter color than those of the true 

 red bug and are clothed with short black hairs and do not have the dusky 

 markings on the thorax. Soon after becoming mature the females begin 

 egg-laying. This operation has been observed by Mr. H. H. Knight who has 

 published a very interesting account of the operation in the "Journal of 

 Economic Entomology." The female first bores a hole through the bark with 

 her beak and then enlarges it with the ovipositor. In this cavity, the eggs 

 are deposited. 



Control. — The young bugs can be killed by thorough spraying with 

 "Black-leaf-40" tobacco extract, 1 pint in 100 gallons of water with 5 

 pounds of soap added to make the liquid stick and spread better. The 

 tobacco extract can be combined with the dilute lime-sulphur solution 

 as used for a summer spray. In case, however, the insects are extremely 

 abundant it is necessary to use such large quantities of the liquid that the 

 lime-sulphur may injure the foliage; in such cases a separate application 

 should be made for the red bugs, using the tobacco extract with water and 

 soap. The applications should be made first, as the blossoms begin to show 

 pink, and second, as the last of the petals are falling. These applications 

 coincide with those for the first scab spray and for the codling moth respect- 

 ively. 



