281 [ DISEASES OF THE APPLE TREE 



The grubs of two small moths, Argyresthia ephip- 

 peila Fb. and A. cornella Fb. destroy the flower buds 

 and the leaf buds in autumn and winter in upper Italy 

 and Germany, where also the grub of Laverna Hetterella 

 Dup. tunnels within the young shoot and destroys it. 



The grub of Grapholitha pomonella L. (Carpocapsa 

 pomonella Tr.), the well-known codling moth, produces 

 tunnels within the fruit of the apple in the same manner 

 as in the fruit of the pear, and although it is here much 

 more common on the pear, the havoc which it causes to 

 the apple orchard is often very serious. 



Fortunately few of the above species of Lepidoptera 

 have so far been detected in these Islands and with the 

 exception of the havoc caused by Zeuzera Aesculi L. and 

 Grapholitha pomonella L., the injury resulting from the 

 presence of other species is generally limited to the 

 corrosion of a few leaves here and there without any 

 appreciable influence on the general health of the tree or 

 of its cropping capacity. 



The apple tree has also numerous enemies among 

 the Coleoptera or beetles, but as in the case of the pear 

 only two, the large wood borers, are really dangerous. The 

 small larva of Rynchites pauxillus Germ, makes tunnels 

 within the substance of the young leaf. The following 

 beetles also feed on the foliage of the apple all over 

 Europe : Melolontha vulgar is L. the May-bug, which is 

 a serious pest in most European countries, Rhizotrogus 

 solstiticUis L., Rhynchites auratus Scop., Phyilopertha 

 horticola L., Luperus rujipes L., Polydrosus sericeus 

 Schall., this last in its larval stage also destroys the buds 

 in winter, a feat frequently shared by Otiorrhyncus 

 picipes Fb., Phyllobius oblongus L., Ph. argentatus L. and 

 Ph. Piri L., while the small grubs of Anthonomns 

 pomorum L. and of A. Piri Koll. the pear weevil, lives 

 within the buds of the apple tree as well as of the pear 

 tree, A . pomorum usually preferring the flower buds. 



