1144 



THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK STATE 



FIG. 369. EGG-LAYING PUNC- 

 TURES OF THE PLUM 'CuR- 

 CULIO IN CHERRIES 



the female makes a similar puncture under the skin of the fruit, 



places an egg therein and then 



I M W ^^ makes a semicircular cut around 



J^fl&f \J^ an( ^ under it so as to leave the egg 



Im ml V^^ in a flap of the flesh (Fig. 369). 



11 i& The egg hatches in a week or less, 



jr"' Wk and the grub burrows to the stone, 



K A^ mi where it completes its growth. In 



the case of plums and peaches the 



infested fruit usually falls to the 



ground, but with most varieties of 



JP ^k cherries they remain on the trees. 



In about twenty days from the 

 time the egg is laid the grub be- 

 comes full-grown, leaves the fruit, 

 and burrows a short distance into 



the ground. Here in a small earthen cell the transformation 

 to the adult takes place. In New York the majority of the cur- 

 culios are in the ground between July 10 and August 10. Thev 

 are then in a delicate, helpless condition, and are almost certain 

 to perish if their cells are broken open. The beetles emerge from 

 the ground during August and early September, and, after feeding 

 for some time on the fruit, go into hibernation. There is only one 

 generation annually. 



Control 



The plum curculio is always most abundant where good hiber- 

 nating quarters are- available. The first step in the control of this 

 insect consists in reducing to a minimum such shelter by clear i 

 away all stone piles, stone walls, hedges, and similar hiding pla 

 After such conditions have been remedied, it is not difficult 

 control the curculio on cherries by spraying. Good results have 

 been obtained by using arsenate of lead, two and one-half poun 

 in 50 gallons of lime-sulphur (32 degrees Baume), at the rate 

 of 1 gallon in 75 gallons of water. Two applications should be 

 made, the first soon after the petals fall, and the second a week 

 or ten davs later. 



