9 [429] 



of this species, in laying its eggs in the calyx end of the apple, is to 

 avoid iuterferance with the connection of the apple with the tree by 

 means of the stem, and thereby ensure its attachment, till the worm with- 

 in shall have nearly or quite matured its growth. We shall have occasion 

 to refer to this point more particularly in the sequel. 



SUBSEQUENT HISTORY. 



The eggs hatch in the course of a week after they are deposited. The 

 young worm is so small that it is not easily seen without the aid of a 

 lens. It is white, with a black head and collar, and a black spot on the 

 top of the last segment. There are eight black dots on each segment, 

 so arranged as to make four rows, extending the length of the body. 

 As the larva increases in size the black parts become brown, the dots 

 become pale, grayish and often indistinct, and tlie body assumes more 

 or less of a pinkish tint. 



The young worm, as soon as hatched, eats its way directly, but by a 

 slightly tortuous course, to the core of the apple, throwing out its cast- 

 ings through the hole by which it entered, and which it must somewhat 

 enlarge for this purpose. A portion of the castings adhere to the 

 shrunken calyx upon the outside of the apple, in the form of a dark rust- 

 colored mass, which can be easily seen from the ground beneath, and 

 which thus enables us to distinguish the wormy apples at a considerable 

 distance. 



Ai'rived at the core, the worm subsists for a time mainly upon the 

 seeds, which appear to be peculiarly agreeable to its taste ; and it is 

 very common to find a worm at this stage, completely enclosed in the 

 hull of an excavated seed. When half grown or more, they usually 

 make their way to the side of the apple and cut a comparatively large 

 hole, through Avhich to discard their castings ; and through this hole 

 the matured worm ultimately makes its exit. It is not very uncommon, 

 however, for the worm to enlarge the passage by which it entered, and 

 to j)ass out by it, in which case no side hole is made. 



A part of the wormy apples fall to the ground, but not usually until 

 the worms are nearly or quite matured, and a part remain adherent to 

 the tree for a time after the worms have left them. Whether the apples 

 fall or not, depends partly upon the variety, (some kinds being much 

 more strongly adherent than others,) and partly upon the occurrence or 

 not of strong winds. In exceptional cases apples which have harbored 

 worms adhere to the tree all winter. 



The worms which leave the fallen apples, as a general rule, make 



their way to the tree, crawl up its trunk and spin their cocoons under 



the scales of bark on the trunk and larger branches. Those which leave 



the apples on the tree, either let themselves down to the ground by a 



Vol. IV— 46 



