CHAPTER XIII 



GARDEN INSECTS {Continued) 



The Apple Maggot, Trypeta po7noneUa. — This, commonly 

 known as the "railroad worm," has become an enemy to 

 apples and apple culture, ranking almost as destructive 

 as the codling moth. Thousands of barrels of fruit are 

 stored or marketed, apparently sound, only to be opened 

 and thrown away. 



Beginning this study with the opening of school in 

 September, ask the pupils each to examine lOO apples, 

 preferably all of the same variety, and report the result 

 at a subsequent lesson. If the pest be abundant, the 

 teacher will find little difficulty in securing a few '' rail- 

 roaded apples" with which to show the class what to 

 look for. 



The injury to the fruit is done by the larva, or maggot, 

 boring channels back and forth through the pulp as it 

 feeds. One such larva is sufficient to spoil an apple, and 

 since the fly has been found to contain from 300 to 400 

 eggs, there is almost no limit to the damage that this one 

 insect may cause. 



By keeping a number of infested apples in a box the 

 pupse may be secured for the school collection, and a few of 

 these should be put away in a cool place until June or July, 

 in order to get the adult flies. These should also be sought 

 for in the fall about apple trees. Fig. 83 sufficiently 



202 



