Nursery and Orchard Insect Pests 



Since the establishment of the Plant Inspection Service by the Legislature 

 in 1913 the work of control of nursery and orchard insects has been given 

 special attention. The San Jose scale, which since the early 90's has been re- 

 sponsible for much of the loss and damage to the fruit industry of Missouri, 

 was taken in hand first of all. Remarkable results have already been secured 

 in eliminating this pest from the nurseries of the state as well as from the im- 

 portant orchard centers. The various other less well-known insects and plant 

 diseases have also received attention. 



Except for certain pests of the fruit itself, practically every pest that is 

 of importance in the nursery on the young trees, also attacks the older bearing 

 trees in the orchard. For this reason it has seemed advisable in this report to 

 deal with the various pests and their control both in the orchard and in the 

 nursery. For the same reason it is of vital importance that the Plant Inspection 

 Service be maintained and that adequate provisions be made to effectively pro- 

 tect Horticulture and Agriculture against future losses from insects and plant 

 diseases. The problems of the fruit grower and nurseryman, in this respect, are 

 identical, and to make the work most effective we must continue to have close 

 cooperation between them. A neglected orchard will endanger a neighboring 

 nursery as well as increase the difficulties of nearby fruit growers. 



In this report the pests of apple, peach and other fruits will be taken up 

 separately. Where a pest is of importance both in the orchard and nursery 

 it will be so considered. 



INSECT PESTS OF THE APPLE 



Apple insects may be conveniently discussed as those of the roots, trunk 

 and limbs, foliage and fruit. This method makes it easy for a fruit grower or 

 nurseryman quickly to analyze his trouble. 



Apple Root Insects 



In Missouri there is only one insect of importance on the roots of apple 

 trees. This is the Root Louse or Wooly Aphis, (Schizoneura lanigera). It is 

 quite generally distributed thruout the state, breeding commonly on apple, haw, 

 crab, and on elm foliage. It is a small reddish-brown louse which usually 

 keeps its body covered with a white cottony secretion. It feeds by extracting 

 sap from the roots and bark thru a piercing beak. On the roots this causes 

 swellings to form and on the trunk and limbs slight depressions. 



CONTROL. In the nursery it helps to grow apple trees in fields which were 

 formerly used for cultivated crops, and well isolated from old orchards, neg- 

 lected apple trees, haws, crabs and elms. Also make sure that roots and scions 

 are free from infestation when the grafts are made. Apple trees showing the 



