INSECTS PARTICULARLY AFFECTING THE APPLE 



DR. E. P. FELT, ALBANY, N. Y. 

 State Entomologist 



Insect pests lay heavy taxes upon the 

 fruit grower. No part of a tree is ex- 

 empt from injury; the flower, the fruit, 

 the leaf, the twig, the branch, or even the 

 root may be destroyed or at least seri- 

 ously weakened by insects. Under pres- 

 ent conditions, the production of satis- 

 factory fruit without fighting the natural 

 enemies of trees ig almost unthinkable. 

 Young orchards must be protected from 

 borers, plant lice, and scale insect if one would obtain satisfactory 

 growth, and the crop of fruiting trees is subject to material de- 

 preciation in value through the work of the codling moth, the 

 apple maggot, and the red bugs. 



The methods employed for the control of insects should be 

 planned so as to aid in preventing or checking fungous infection, 

 since it is frequently possible to obtain a double benefit by spray- 

 ing with a combined insecticide and fungicide. As a general 

 rule, if one is necessary, the other should be added to the spray, 

 because under such circumstances additional protection is se- 

 cured for the bare cost of the extra materials. Generally speak- 

 ing, there is no better poison than a good grade of arsenate of 

 lead, and no better contact insecticide than a lime-sulphur wash 

 or a tobacco extract. Oils should be used on dormant trees only 

 when necessary. The bordeaux mixture and the dilute lime- 

 sulphur wash are deservedly favorite fungicides. 



The apple tree and its fruit are subject to attack by numerous 

 insect enemies. Scientists have even listed approximately four 

 hundred species as occurring on this tree. Fortunately, however, 

 comparatively few are serious pests, and it is our plan to discuss 

 only the more important insect enemies. 



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