PEACH INSECTS - 65 



The oriental peach moth ^- (Laspcyresia 



molesta) 



Order — Lepidoptera 



The oriental peach moth has lately been discov- 

 ered in this country and promises to be a serious 

 pest. It occurs in New York, New Jersey, Mary- 

 land, Virginia, and Connecticut. It injures plum, 

 cherry and peach at least. 



The insect passes the winter as a larva in cocoon 

 beneath flakes of bark ; these pupate in early spring 

 and moths emerge in mid- April in Maryland; the 

 moths lay their eggs singly on undersides of leaves 

 and the larvae attack tender shoots ; the larvae feed 

 8 to 16 days and spin cocoons in axils of twigs; 

 the pupal stage lasts 5 to 12 days; there are 5 gen- 

 erations in the vicinity of Washington, D. C. ; the 

 fourth brood larvae feed on the fruit of late ripen- 

 ing varieties. 



Control — Winter applications of lime-sulphur 

 are useful; applications of the neutral arsenate of 

 lead, 2 pounds to 50 gallons will aid in control; 

 begin spraying with dropping of the bloom and 

 make three applications about one month apart; 

 watch efl^ect of applications as arsenate of lead is 

 liable to burn foliage; use extra lime or add to the 

 self-boiled lime-sulphur. 



The plum curculio ^^ — An important pest on 

 peaches because it not only punctures the fruit but 

 carries the spores of brown-rot and makes wounds 

 through which the brown-rot enters. The self- 

 boiled lime-sulphur for control of brown-rot with 

 arsenate of lead added at the rate of 2 pounds to 

 50 gallons of the mixture has given good results in 

 the control of this pest. The arsenate of lead com- 

 bined with the self-boiled lime-sulphur does not 



^2 Carman — Md. Expt. Stat., Bull. 209. 



^3 Scott and Quaintance — U. S. Bu. Ent., Circ. 120, 



