No. 4.] FRUIT TREES AND INSECT FOES. 121 



it is true, but two applications in June should be amply suffi- 

 cient to prevent any loss from their ravages. 



The apple maggot or railroad worm (Rhagoletis pomonella 

 Walsh) is another pest which causes much trouble in Massa- 

 chusetts. The adult is a fly, smaller than a house fly, with 

 black bands on its wings, which lays its eggs just under the 

 skin of the apple. This begins early in July and continues 

 till late in September, different individuals appearing at dif- 

 ferent times during this period. The young maggots from 

 these eggs tunnel in all directions through the fruit, the earlier 

 tunnels healing and closing up, but later ones remaining open 

 and turning brown, while the fruit becomes soft and worthless. 

 When full grown these maggots leave the apple and enter the 

 ground, where they pupate an inch or more below the surface. 

 Sometimes they leave the apples after these have been gath- 

 ered, and in such cases pupate on the bottom of the bin or 

 barrel in which the fruit is stored. 



The protected life of this pest makes it difficult to combat, 

 the most exposed period being while it is in the pupal stage. 

 The plan suggested 

 for the codling moth, 

 of gathering and de- 

 stroying fallen fruit 

 promptly, and of let- 

 ting fowls or hogs 

 run in the orchard, 

 is also of value for 

 the railroad worm, 

 as many of the mag- 

 gots in the fallen 

 apples — those leav- 

 ing it for the ground 

 and those pupating 

 in the ground — are 

 quite certain to be found and eaten by these animals. 



All parts of trees are attacked by insects, and the apple is 

 no exception to the rule. With the codling moth and railroad 

 worm injuring the fruit, the scale insects sucking the sap from 

 the branches and twigs and various other pests consuming 



Apple showing work of the maggot. 



