402 ECONOMIC INSECTS 



The plum curculio is the insect which causes stone fruits 

 to be wormy. Peaches, plums and cherries are usually badly 

 affected unless remedies are successfully used. The adult is a 

 beetle having a long ' 'snout" with jaws at the end of it. The in- 

 sect attacks the fruit soon after the stamens disappear. Crescent- 

 shaped wounds are made on the small green fruits (Figs. 282 and 

 283) and eggs are laid near these. When the larvae hatch they 

 soon eat their way toward the seeds of the fruits (Fig. 284). Many 

 fruits drop off and others are prematurely ripened as a result of 

 these attacks. All fruit is wormy and is rendered unfit for use or 

 for market. 



FIG. 282. Although the curculio insect does not make pears and apples wormy, the bites 

 of the insect cause deformed growth as shown here. (New Jersey Station.) 



The best remedy is to spray the orchard thoroughly with poison 

 soon after the petals fall and again about ten days later. 



Jarring the trees frequently in early morning during the egg- 

 laying period will cause many adults to fall. They may be caught 

 in sheets or stretchers under the trees. They are easily destroyed 

 in cans containing a little kerosene. All fruits which fall to the 

 ground should be destroyed if possible. Swine and poultry will 

 aid much in this work. 



The San Jose scale is the worst insect enemy of orchards. 

 The leaves, young twigs and also the fruits are attacked by the 

 scale insects, which suck the juices and reduce the vitality or 

 actually kill the trees. Enormous losses result unless systematic 

 remedies are applied. The great damage is due to the rapidity 



