LEPIDOPTERA 



87 



live in colonies forming webs in midsummer, within which 



they pupate. 

 The coddling moth (Carpocapsa pomonelki) is familiar 



to most pupils in its larval 



form as the whitish worm 



found in apples, pears, 



and quinces. About a 



Week after the trees bloom 



the brownish-gray moth 



emerges from its silken 



cocoon beneath a loose 



piece of bark and lays a 



minute white egg on each 



of fifty or more leaves and 



apples. In less than two 



weeks the larva enters 



the fruit at the blossom 



end and eats out a large cavity, causing it to fall to the 

 ground. Soon after, the worm finds a 

 secluded spot, constructs a cocoon in 

 which it remains a fortnight before 

 transformation to the adult moth is com- 

 pleted. In regions north of the latitude 

 of Buffalo the larva remains in its 

 cocoon over winter, but farther south 

 there are usually two generations and 

 the larva of late summer only remains 

 over winter. The pupa and adult are 



easily obtained by removing a large larva from an apple 



in June and feeding it daily in a covered jar with fresh 



apple until it spins a cocoon. 



FIG. 90. Photograph of half an apple con- 

 taining the larva of the coddling moth. 

 Nearly twice natural size. 



FIG. 91. Coddling 

 moth. Photograph, 

 slightly enlarged. 



