148 ORCHARD INSECTS 



The moth itself is small and inconspicuous and is seldom 

 seen by the orchard man. It deposits its eggs sometimes on the 

 fruit but more often on adjoining leaves or even on the bark 

 of twigs and branches, where they hatch in a short time and the 

 little "worms," or larvae, soon attack the young apples, in most 

 cases entering at the blossom end. Once inside the apple, they 

 feed for about a month, principally on the inside (but occasion- 

 ally working on the surface). "When it has reached full size the 

 larva emerges and forms its cocoon usually in a crevice in the 

 bark. From this point the life history varies with different 

 parts of the country. In most of New England there is only a 

 partial second brood, that is most of them pass the winter in 

 the cocoon stage. A few pass through this stage and emerge 

 as moths which deposit their eggs, producing the second brood 

 of "worms." The future histoiy is practically the same as 

 before, except that the later broods of the season do more feeding 

 on the surface of the apples, especially where two apples hang 

 together or wiiere a leaf rests upon an apple. 



In States farther south there are two or more complete 

 broods in a season. 



The all-important remedy in fighting the codling moth is 

 spraying with poison, and usually it is the only remedy at- 

 tempted. In sections where the codling moth is very trouble- 

 same the following additional methods are practised: 



First, the rough bark is scraped from the trees to reduce 

 the number of hiding places for the larva? when they emerge. 



Second, bands of burlap are put about the trees as traps 

 under which the larvre will spin their cocoons. These bands are 

 removed from time to time and the insects which are found under 

 them are killed. 



Third, the windows of storage houses are kept screened so 

 as to prevent the escape of the moths which may have passed 

 the winter as larvae in barrels or elsewhere. 



But, as before suggested, the all-important method of con- 

 trol is spraying with a poison. Authorities differ as to just the 

 type of spray that is best. Many western experimenters insist 

 on a coarse, forcible spray which shall force the poison into the 



