INSECTS EATING FRUIT PULP 



479 



should be placed in the spring on the rough bark around the base 

 of bearing trees, a little above and below the ground line. This 

 will keep in the perfect insects which come from the cocoons which 

 are at the openings of the burrows and it will keep out the newly 

 hatching larvae from eggs which will be then laid on the tree near 

 the ground by the insects which are not shut in by the asphaltum. 

 The material is applied warm with a brush. It is easier to apply 

 two or more coatings than to try to put on more at one time than 

 will adhere firmly. The first coating will harden very quickly, and 

 the second can be applied without loss of time. Two coatings are 

 generally sufficient unless the bark is very rough. A thick uniform 

 covering is absolutely necessary for the best results. 



In the case of young trees with smooth bark, asphaltum may 

 induce sunburn and crude oil whitewash is preferred. Fifty pounds 

 of stone lime (in a barrel), slaked with from 10 to 15 gallons of 

 warm water. While the lime is boiling, slowly pour in six gallons 

 of heavy crude oil. Stir and add water to make a heavy paste and 

 paint that on. This must be used the same day it is mixed and not 

 used if kept over. 



Strawberry Root-Borer. The larva of another clear-winged 

 moth (Aegeria impropria), boring into the root of the strawberry 

 plants, found in various portions of the State, and doing considerable 

 damage, forcing the growers to resort to replanting much earlier 

 than otherwise would be necessary. Flooding the vines has a great 

 tendency to kill out the worms, and if the water was retained, say 

 four or five days during the winter, all over the plants, doubtless all 

 the larvae would be killed. 



Currant and Gooseberry Borer. A white worm eating out the 

 central pith of currant and gooseberry plants the larva of another 

 clear-winged moth (Aegeria tipuliformis). Spraying with whale-oil 

 soap after the crop is gathered, pruning out and burning in the fall 

 of all old wood which can be spared, will reduce the evil. 



The Raspberry Cane Borer. This intruder is one of the family 

 Tenthredinideae, or saw flies. The very small maggot or larva will 

 be found by peeling the bark carefully. This larva can not crawl, 

 therefore if the tips be cut and the worm is taken out he will die. A 

 better way is to cut all tips, as fast as they show signs of wilting, and 

 burn them. Thorough work in topping is absolutely necessary, so 

 as to be sure that none of the worms remain to produce flies. Top- 

 ping causes the canes to throw out laterals, thus producing more 

 fruit. The canes are not affected after July. 



Another cane-borer, occurring in the foothills, has been identified 

 by E. O. Essig, as the larva of a horn-tail. Its treatment is like that 

 just described. 



INSECTS DEVOURING THE PULP OF FRUITS 



The Apple Worm. The codlin moth (Carpocapsa pomonella) is 

 one of the great pests of the State. It preys chiefly upon the apple 

 and pear, but the quince and other large fruits are sometimes in- 



