242 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



WARBLERS. 



Only two warblers, the summer or yellow warbler (Dendroica 

 wstiva) and the lutescent warbler (Vermivora celata lutescens), are 

 now known to prey upon codling moths, but it is certain that fur- 

 ther study of the food of this much neglected family will add a con- 

 siderable number of species to the list. The lutescent warbler shows 

 a strong liking for the pupae, two taken in California in May having 

 eaten 10 and 18 pupae, respectively. 



CREEPERS AND NUTHATCHES. 



Each of these families has a single species on the list of enemies of 

 the apple worm, namely, the brown creeper (Certhia familiar-is 

 americana) and the white-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinemis] . 

 It is reasonable to suppose that all the subspecies of creepers and 

 nuthatches will in time be found to eat codling larvae and pupae. 



TITMICE AND CHICKADEES. 



Next to woodpeckers, titmice are probably the most important 

 enemies of the codling moth. Their habits of searching every nook 

 and cranny, however small or difficult of access, and the thorough 

 way they go over trees and stumps, enable them to find the favorite 

 hibernating quarters of the larvae. A description of their methods 

 of hunting is given by Trimble, who remarks (p. 120), after detail- 

 ing that he had taken 5 larvae from the stomach of a black-capped 

 chickadee (Penthestes atricapillus) : 



The day had been dry and windy, following a warm wet day and night; 

 and it is in just such weather that the bark of the button wood, shellbark 

 hickory, and other shaggy trees will be found curling out and falling off. 



I have never seen anything that would lead me to believe that this minute 

 bird makes the holes in the scales of bark that lead directly to the cocoons 

 of these caterpillars; they are made by the downy woodpecker and probably 

 by it alone. The chickadee most likely finds these worms only or chiefly on 

 such days as this, when the warping of these scales exposes them to the 

 prying eyes of these busy little friends. 



Besides the black-capped chickadee, the following four species of 

 this family are known to eat codling moth larvae or pupae: Plain 

 titmouse (Bceolopkus inornatus}, Carolina chickadee (Penthestes 

 carolinensis) , mountain chickadee (Penthestes gambeli], and Cali- 

 fornia bush tit (Psaltriparus minimus calif ornicus) . 



Ten stomachs of the last-named species, examined by Prof. F. E. L. 

 Beal, contained, on the average, 25 per cent of pupae of the codling 

 moth. Eight of these stomachs were of nestlings, containing pupae 

 as follows : Two stomachs contained 2 each, two contained 3 each, one 

 contained 4, one 7, one 9, and one 11, making 41 in all, or an average 

 of over 5 to each. 



