58 



spring the stub began to crack and decay and the bark to loosen. 

 Many codling-moth larva3 crawled under the bark in the fall of 1901. 

 The woodpeckers found this stub in the following winter and spring, 

 and not only probably secured all the larvae which were under the 

 bark, but enlarged one of the main cracks in order to get those which 

 were hidden inside. In the fall of 1902 all the bark had fallen from 

 this stub and many more larvse took refuge in the cracks. Upon 

 examination, in May, 1903, the writer found that the crack had been 

 recently enlarged, as is well shown in the reproduction. This recent 

 enlarging was probabl}" done mostly by the pileated woodpecker 

 {Ceophelns pileatvs)^ as the chips broken out were quite large, and 

 probably required more strength than other smaller woodpeckers 

 could muster. This stub was sawed from the tree and sent to the 

 writer, and in the latter part of May the moths emerged, and 28 empty 

 pupal skins were found on June 25. The writer estimates that fully 

 100 larva? hibernated in this stub. 



It is highly probable that all woodpeckers feed on the codling moth 

 larvai. Other birds, including the nuthatches, black-capped titmice, 

 wrens, bluebirds, crows, blackbirds, kingbirds, swallows, sparrows, 

 chickadees, and jays, may also feed upon the codling moth, especially 

 those birds which winter in the locality where the larvas are present. 

 Without doubt the bobwhite quail, which has been introduced into 

 many sections of the West, also feeds upon this insect. At best our 

 knowledge of the food habits of many of these birds in regard to the 

 codling moth is based upon but little direct evidence; but reasoning 

 from what we do know positively, there is little doubt that codling 

 moths form a part of the diet of at least some of these birds. Not 

 many years ago a movement was set on foot in the Pacific northwest 

 to import the German kohlmeisen into this country, as it was said to 

 feed largely upon the larvas of the codling moth; Init because the bene- 

 fits derived from the bird in its native home were not clearly proven, 

 and that it sometimes injured fruit, and also on account of many dis- 

 astrous experiences in the importation of ])irds and mammals which 

 have already been made, the majority of the authorities were con- 

 vinced that it would be a dangerous experiment, and no further action 

 was taken. The expenditure of time and money necessary to carry 

 out such a project would probabl}" be more beneficial if applied to the 

 protection of our native birds. 



Koebele writes that in California he knows of many small bats fly- 

 ing around the apple trees in the evening, taking moths on the wing, 

 and even darting down to take moths which were upon the leaves. The 

 writer has often noticed bats flying about the apple trees, but was 

 unable to obtain any evidence that they were catching codling moths. 



