46 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA I 



of late years turned its attention to apricots, and, in rare 

 cases, even to plums and peaches, although I understand 

 from Mr. Neilson and others that the damage done to the 

 latter fruits so far is not to any great extent, at least we 

 hope not. 



With regard to the life-history of the Codlin Moth, 

 there is a great difference of opinion as to whether there 

 is more than one brood in the season, and, judging from 

 recent trials and experiments made principally in America, 

 it would seem to have been proved that there are (in 

 America at least) two broods, viz., those hatched from 

 the eggs which the female has deposited when the apple 

 is just forming, and the second brood which is hatched 

 from the apple at a much later stage, and these may 

 be deposited on the face of the fruit although it is 

 well known that the larvae of the moth if taken from 

 the bandages, say in early spring, will remain without 

 undergoing a change until January, or even February, 

 when, after a short interval, it changes into the cocoon 

 and chrysalis stages, and from thence into the perfect 

 insect, and at dusk resumes its flight; also the propaga- 

 tion of its species. This I have observed, but only while 

 the moth was confined in a large glass-case, and the 

 chances are, which I believe have yet to be verified or 

 disproved, that the habits of the Codlin Moth, in some 

 respects at least, change while in captivity. There is 

 one thing certain, and that is, the moths of both sexes 

 have been taken on the wing late in February, and as 

 copulation takes place at this period, it would be interest- 

 ing to know where the female moth deposits her eggs at 

 this time of the year, as the apples are too far advanced 

 for the first laying of the eggs, that is, if the fact of the 

 first eggs having been laid in the newly-formed fruit 

 be accepted, as is generally supposed to be the case. 

 One thing seems to me certain, either the Codlin Moth 

 deposits her eggs in the young apple and then (as with 

 moths and butterflies generally) dies in a few days, or 

 that the grubs, after eating part of one apple, ascend 

 or descend as the case may be, and bore into other 



