27 



free from loose hark most of the larva? which escape the spraying- will 

 pupate beneath the burlap band and may there easily be killed. Where 

 this system alone is depended on the bands are examined every ten or 

 eleven days, because if a longer time elapses many of the moths will 

 emerge. This practice alone is b}^ no means as efficient as spraying 

 alone. It would seem that, in any case, it would be desirable to use 

 the bands to trap as many as possible of the last brood each year, 

 thereby lessening the injury from them the following spring. 



THE PEACH TWIG-BORER. 



This insect injures the peach in two very diflerent ways, namely, by 

 burrowing into the fruit, making the so-called "wormy'"' peaches, and 

 b}^ bonng into the twigs, which it frequently kills. 



Description and habits. — The insect is usually noted in gathering the 

 later varieties of peaches, the earlier ones being quite exempt, as a 

 rule. The worm enters at the stem end, and usually bores into the 

 seed, which it seems to prefer. In such cases the stone usually splits 

 as the fruit ripens. At other times the worm burrows only through 

 the flesh, making irregular tunnels. Whether the seed is attacked or 

 not seems to depend on how far the stone has hardened when attacked. 

 The larva is pinkish or dirty brown in color, about one-half an inch 

 long, and ver}" commonly changes into a pupa inside the split stone. 



The adult is a small, dark-gra}' moth, marked on the fore- wings 

 with a few dark spots and streaks. Both pairs of wings are bordered 

 with a paler fringe. These adults issue in August and later, and lay 

 their eggs in or near the crotches of the branches. When the eggs 

 hatch, the young burrow into the bark in the crotch and feed on the 

 soft, spongy bark until the succeeding spring. Their presence during 

 the winter is disclosed by the line brownish castings which are thrown 

 out and become heaped up at the entrances to the burrows. Just as 

 the leaves are developing in the spring they leave their winter quar- 

 ters, and for a short time feed on the tender shoots. They bind the 

 young leaves together loosely with silk threads, and later, when some 

 of these leaves or the whole twig turns brown from the injuries, the 

 w^ork of the insect is very conspicuous. 



At this time, however, the larva has usually left the leaves, and in 

 some secluded place transforms into a pupa. From this the moth 

 soon emerges and lays the eggs from which hatches the brood which 

 attacks the fruit. According to Marlatt it is a third brood and not 

 the second which enters the fruit. 



Remedies.- — Excellent results have been reached in Snake River Val- 

 ley by spraying the trees in winter with kerosene emulsion, used 

 preferably somewhat less diluted than for ordinary purposes. The 

 castings at the mouths of the winter burrows readily absorlj the oil, 

 which penetrates into the holes and destroys the worms. 



The sulphur-salt-lime wash has no appreciable efi^ect on the insect. 



