22 FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



actually been observed preying on the Colorado Potato-beetle, a round 

 score of which have been figured ; but the one true parasite is undoubt- 

 edly more efficient than any of the others. 



THE CODLING MOTH, AGAIN. 



A few additional and important facts in connection with the manage- 

 ment of this insect, have come to light during the year just past, and are 

 worthy of record. 



Time of Year that the first Moths appear. — To make the state- 

 ment answer for any latitude, what was said in my first Eeport may be 

 safely relied on, namely, that the moths begin to appear as soon as the 

 apple trees are in bloom. Egg-laying commences soon after apples f »rm. 

 Of course, the time of blossoming varies slightly Avith the variety ; but the 

 time of issuing of the moths varies still more, so that the statement holds 

 good. As the seasons vary from two to three weeks, or even a month, in 

 relative earliness, and as the appearance of the moths varies accordingly., 

 the futility of giving exact dates becomes apparent. 



Time required for its Development. — Having bred some moths nearly 

 every year for ten years, in different localities, I can safely give the follow- 

 ing as the average length of time required in the adolescent stages of the 

 first brood; but which, of course, do not hold good in the second brood, 

 which hibernates : — Egg state, 4 — 10 days ; larva or worm state, 2.5 — 30 days 

 outside and 3 inside cocoon ; pupa state, 12 — 18 days. Little can be gaine<i 

 by isolated experiments, because the length of time required varies accord- 

 ing to the state of the atmosphere, temperature, etc. 



Proper Time to commence applying the Bandage around the Tree. — 

 I have heretofore given the first of June as the proper time to commence 

 applying the Ijandages, but late experience would lead me to advise their 

 application nearly two weeks earlier. For reasons already stated it is diffi- 

 cult to give dates with any degree of accuracy, and the best advice that ean 

 be given is to have the bandages on the trees about a week after the 

 first Wilson's Albany strawberries are ripe. It is of no use to put them 

 on earlier with a view to entrap the moths, as I am convinced that these 

 cannot be entrapped in sufficient numbers to make it pay. The bands 

 should be removed and the insects destroyed at least once a fortnight from 

 this time till the apples are all oft' the tree. 



It attacks Peaches. — Ijast year (3rd Eep. p. 103) I gave reasons for 

 believing that this insect had attacked peaches in some parts of the State, 

 and had, according to Mr. Huron Burt, infested three-fourths of the crap 

 around Williamsburg. I am now able to say positively that the insect men- 

 tioned is the genuine Codling Moth, as Mr. Burt has since furnished me 

 with specimens of the worms. Thus, we have a second example in this 



Goerius olens of Eui-ope is noted for its vtti)aci(iu.s clmracter, and Philonthus may now be included iit 

 this category. Westwood (Int. H, p. 164) cites Velleius dilatatus as parasitic in the nests of Veapa 

 crabro, and other small species of the genera Dinarda and LomechusaASi residing in tlie nests of ants. 

 Mr. Fred. Smith (ibid, p. 305, note) found a species of McfirajV/icHS parasitic on the larva of Saperda 

 poptilnea while Aleochora anthomijia, Sjirague (Am. Kiit. IT., p. iJTO) is parasitic in the larv;« of 

 Anthomyia brassiccR. 



