insect record 173 



Fruit Insects. 



The bark-lice of apple and other trees — notably the 

 Oyster-shell Bark-louse and the Scurfy Bark-louse — have 

 continued to attract the attention of fruit growers through- 

 out the state, and have doubtless been doing considerable 

 damage in regions where their presence has not been noticed. 

 Both species have repeatedly been sent to the station with 

 the query as to whether they were the San Jose Scale. 



The Apple Aphis was unusually abundant in the southern 

 part of New Hampshire during the early summer. The 

 injury to the young twigs of newly set trees was quite 

 serious. In a small plantation of such trees I found that 

 dipping the infested twigs in a rather w^eak solution of 

 Bowker's Tree Soap was practicable and efficient. The 

 comparatively few twigs on each tree were bent down 

 and held in the solution a moment, the liquid thus reaching 

 all of the insects among the folded leaves. 



Considerable local damage was done by the Canker-worm. 

 A series of experiments conducted by us and not heretofore 

 reported showed that this pest can be controlled by spray- 

 ing with arsenate of lead or disparene. Our experience 

 emphasized, however, the necessity for early spraying in 

 order that the worms may be killed before too much damage 

 to the foliage is done. 



Another apple insect that attracted considerable notice 

 was the Red-humped Apple Caterpillar, which was locally 

 destructive in many parts of the state. This is an insect 

 of peculiar appearance that feeds in colonies upon the 

 leaves of apple trees. It is usually destroyed by simply 

 cutting off the infested twig and killing the larvae. 



The American Tent Caterpillar is slowly increasing in 

 numbers, though the increase in 1903 over 1902 was not 

 so great as had been expected. The good work of birds in 

 keeping these caterpillars in check was very evident, the 

 Baltimore Orioles being especially efficient. The apple 

 maggot was locally quite destructive. 



