86 INSECT PESTS 



of growth is from four to six weeks, when the grubs leave 

 the fruit and go into the ground. Sprays have not been 

 found very successful in this instance and therefore great 

 diligence in soil fumigating in winter should be resorted 

 to, to destroy the pupae at the base of the trees. 



Our study of the Apple may be concluded with a brief 

 reference to the Pith Moth {iMverna atra) which burrows 

 into the shoots of the young trees and causes much damage 

 at times. It measures about | inch across, the front 

 wings being often quite black, with a few white streaks, 

 the hinder wings grey, with long and beautiful fringes. 

 The caterpillar is flesh-coloured with dark-brown head, 

 and the pupa bright brown. 



The moths come out in July and lay eggs on the leaves, 

 where the larvae feed for a short time and then bore away 

 into the shoots in which they pass the winter. A small 

 blister indicates their .presence. 



Winter pruning and search for the said bUsters consti- 

 tute the best remedies. (See Plate 19.) 



Many of the foregoing insects are also destructive, as 

 has been stated, to pear, plum and cherry trees, and 

 the same measures may be used against them. These 

 trees have, however, other pests peculiar to themselves. 

 An illustration is given of the Pear Midge (Diplosis 

 pyrivora) a deHcate grey creature barely J inch long. It 

 is capable of much damage by attacking the young fruit, 

 the female driving her long ovipositor straight into the 

 calyx and there depositing anjrthing from fifteen to twenty 

 eggs. By the middle of June the larvae, which are with- 

 out feet, yellowish-white, and nearly J inch long, leave 

 the fruit and bury themselves in the ground, spinning 

 silken cocoons and emerging as midges the following spring 

 about the middle of April. A sketch is shown of a young 

 fruit attacked by this pest. (See Plate 19.) 



The best remedy in small gardens is hand picking and 

 the destruction of the affected pears, which cuts off a 

 generation midv/a}^ in its career. Here again those with 



