-»?- 



-i^ 



DAMAGE 



Damage is most noticeable in the spring, either just 

 before or after bloom, when the larvae are actively bor- 

 ing in the new shoots of apple trees, causing leaf wilt 

 and die-back of blossoms and terminal shoots. The lar- 

 vae usually attack spurs and the stems of apical shoots, 

 which stimulates the growth of laterals. The larvae 

 rarely bore directly into the fruit. 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE 



Apple Pith Moth has been recorded as a pest of eco- 

 nomic importance in Europe. Its distribution includes 

 Europe and temperate Asia, and its hosts include spe- 

 cies of Malus. One of the earliest records of Apple Pith 

 Moth is by Stainton (1855, Entomol. App. p. 77) who 

 quoted a correspondent: "This is a most destructive 

 little wretch in apple grounds, owing to the fact of its 

 mining in the bud and in the alburnam of the bearing 

 spur." There were several reports of moderate to seri- 

 ous outbreaks of Apple Pith Moth in Europe from 1902- 

 1929; damage was severe enough to cause complete 

 defoliation. Today, outbreaks of Apple Pith Moth in 

 France can be severe, but are not very common. 

 Probably because of the wide spectrum of the known 

 natural enemies and the use of modern insecticides, 

 the infestations of this insect in Europe are now less 

 frequent that they were 90 years ago. 



We speculate that Apple Pith Moth will not become 

 a problem to most commercial apple growers who use 

 chemical controls. However, in New Hampshire, there is 

 no evidence yet of the heavy parasitism that is com- 

 mon in Europe. Apple Pith Moth might become a seri- 

 ous pest in organic apple orchards and nurseries. In 

 commercial orchards, it probably will become necessary 

 to modify current practices and spray young non-fruit- 

 bearing trees. Effective control probably can be ob- 

 tained by the application of organo-phosphate insecti- 

 cides at two critical time periods: 1) July 25-30, when 

 adults are active and eggs hatch, and 2) in the early 

 spring, when apple buds are opening and the overwin- 

 tering caterpillars emerge from their shelters. Of these 

 times, the insects are more vulnerable in the summer. 



]ohn S. Weaver is Survey Entontologisl and Alan T. Eaton is 

 Extension Specialist, Integrated Pest Management, and both are 

 in tke Entomology Department. UNH. Durham. NH 03824. 

 The phone number for both is (603) 862-1 159. 



nn 



PPGA HIGHLIGHTS 



Keys to Direct Mail Success 



from PPGA News, ]anuary, 1994 



In a soft economy, public relations Is a crucial 

 component of your marketing mix. Time In- 

 vested In public relations (PR) can pay off by get- 

 ting your name in the news. PR can enhance your 

 reputation, sell more products, and increase mar- 

 ket share. 



There's often confusion about the differences 

 between PR and advertising. They both involve 

 working with the media, but In different ways. In 

 advertising, you buy time or space to run an ad 

 you've developed. You control the content and 

 when It appears. 



in PR, you provide or create news for the me- 

 dia to use. Your message reaches consumers 

 through the news rather than paid advertising. 

 Editors, reporters, or producers have final con- 

 tent control. But when the media tells a good 

 story about your business, they are In effect giv- 

 ing an endorsement of you and your products and 

 services. 



PR and advertising can work well together. PR 

 Is a cost-effective way to reenforce your advertis- 

 ing. In many Instances, you can leverage your 

 clout as an advertiser to get your stories on radio 

 and television or Into print. 



Taking the time to use PR to Increase public 

 awareness about plants and your operation can 

 Increase your bottom line, even In a soft 

 economy. Today's value-conscious consumers re- 

 spond to PR messages that show plants to be a 

 high-value product. ^ 



For more- PPGA, PC Box 27515, Lansing, Ml; phone-. 

 (517) 694-7700. 



HARRY STOLLER & CO., Inc. 



109-113 Essex St., Haverhill, Mass. 01830, (508) 373-6838, (800) 322-0332 

 We cater to the small and medium size nursery in any quantity desired: 



1. New heavy grade domestic burlap sqs. 

 untreated & no-rot-treated 



2. Open burlap bags 



3. New windbreak burlap 



4. Balling bags 



5. Wire baskets 



6. Flat-folded burlap basket liners 



7. Truck covers 



8. Sisal twine & poly twine 



9. Woven polypropylene sqs. 



26 



The Plantsman 



