4 N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION. [Bulletin 171 



PAGE 



In the United States there is marked infestation in Maine, 

 New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecti- 

 cut and New York, and considerable damage in neigh- 

 boring states 20 



Econoniic Status in New Hampshire 23 



The species is one of the important and persistent apple 



pests in New Hampshire 23 



Infestation has existed at many points in the state for at 

 least twenty-five years 26 



Wild apples are prevalent in the southern half of the state, 



and usually are infested 27 



Total damage to cultivated fruit fluctuates from year to 

 year, often in inverse proportion to the size of the 

 apple crop 28 



Susceptibility varies widely according to the variety of 

 fruit. Apples of susceptible varieties are common in 

 New Hampshire orchards 29 



factors influencing comparative infestation are season of 

 ripening, aroma and thickness of skin. An indirect 

 factor is location 33 



Life History and Habits 35 



Emergence of the adults begins the last of June or the first 

 week of July, is at maximum in the second and third 

 weeks of July and is practically at an end by the middle 



of August 35 



In New Hampshire there is no indication of a second brood, 



and much evidence that none exists 41 



The period after emergence of the adult female before egg- 

 laying begins may be less than one week. The average 



period is probably somewhat greater 44 



The egg is deposited slightly beneath the skin of the fruit ... 48 

 The females prefer sweet or aromatic fruit, and tend to con- 

 fine their attentions to such fruit when available. If such 

 fruit is not at hand, the females oviposit irregularly . . 48 

 With a tree of susceptible variety the only factor of conse- 

 quence determining the amount of infestation is the 

 relative abundance of females compared with the 

 amount of fruit available 49 



