244 YEARBOOK OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



In Virginia " counts of over 400 cocoons observed on apple trees 

 revealed the fact that ' * * * birds had destroyed fully 85 per 

 cent of the worms." 1 



From New Hampshire comes this report : 2 



Only from 5 to 20 per cent of the larvae survived the winter. An examination 

 of 7 trees, which averaged over 38 cocoons per tree in the fall, showed but 

 5 per cent alive in the spring, 87 per cent having been killed by birds, 4 per 

 cent by disease, and 3 per cent by cold. In another orchard 1,096 cocoons 

 were examined in May, 1907, with 19 per cent alive, 66 per cent having been 

 killed by birds, 6 per cent by disease, and 9 per cent by cold. It is quite evident 

 that the birds, particularly the downy woodpeckers and the nuthatches, are 

 the most important enemies of the codling moth in New England and that they 

 should be given every protection and attracted to the orchard in every way 

 possible. * * * They annually save us barrels of apples by destroying the 

 apple worms under the bark in winter. They should therefore be encouraged 

 and allured to the orchard whenever possible. Bits of suet and meat suspended 

 from the trees will often attract them and sometimes help them through a 

 hard winter. 



Other measures recommended to aid birds in the warfare on this 

 destructive moth are cementing up cavities suitable for the hiber- 

 nation of the moth, thus forcing the larvae to spin cocoons where 

 birds can get them, and scraping off loose flakes of bark, especially 

 those below the snow line, as under these the largest numbers of 

 larvae survive. 



FOREIGN BIRD ENEMIES OF THE CODLING MOTH. 



The suggestion has been made that foreign birds with an estab- 

 lished reputation as codling-moth destroyers be imported into this 

 country. The bird most frequently mentioned is the great titmouse 

 or Kohlmeise (Patrus major) of Europe. However, European 

 records fail to show that this bird pays any particular attention to 

 the codling moth. Moreover its food habits, while apparently bene- 

 ficial on the whole, include some bad traits, such as eating bees, 

 budding trees, attacking pears, and killing smaller birds. Thus the 

 species is distinctly not a promising one for trial in the exceptionally 

 hazardous field of international importation. Among foreign birds 

 that have been definitely recorded as enemies of the codling moth 

 are the European nuthatch (Sitta ccesia)? European wren (Nannus 

 parvulus}* tree creeper (Cert Ma familiaris), 345 blue titmouse 

 (Cyanistes cceruleus), 36 kinglets (Regulus cristatus and Eegulus 



!Buck, J. E. Ann. Rep. Va. Exp. Sta., p. 55, 1908. 



2 Sanderson, E. D. New Hampshire Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 143, pp. 64 and 82, 1909. 



3 Hooper, C. H. Reprint from Country Gentleman's Estate Book, pp. 5 and 16, Lon- 

 don, 1907. 



4 Bos, J. Ritzema. Tierische Schadlinge und Niitzlinge, p. 527, Berlin, 1891. 

 6 Hooper, C. H. Agr. Students Gazette, new ser. 13, p. 123, 1907. 



6 Theobald, F. V. Text-Book of Agr. Zoology, p. 403, London, 1899. 



