230 



SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE 



cides and their effectiveness may be a matter of some 

 uncertainty. 



The Canker Worm (Anisopteryx vernata and A. 

 pometaria) (Figure 120, a, male; 6, female; e, eggs; /, 

 larva; g, pupa) In many sections of the country this 

 insect is one of the most destructive of those attack- 

 ing the apple tree, yet, knowing its habits, if prompt 

 application be made of well known remedies it 

 may be easily and cheaply prevented from doing much 

 harm. Two species (as above) of this genus are found 

 here, both of nearly the same form and of the same 



habits. The female, 

 which has no wings, 

 comes out during 

 warm nights after 

 the ground has been 

 frozen in the fall or 

 early in the spring, 

 from October to May, 

 and lays its eggs in 

 clusters on the trunk 

 and branches. As 

 soon as the leaves 

 come out the eggs 

 begin to hatch and the larvae feed upon the foliage 

 until the trees appear as if fire had run through them. 

 The larvae spend several weeks, eating all but the mid- 

 ribs of the leaves, and when numerous do serious harm. 

 When fully grown they are about three-quarters of an 

 inch long and drop from the tree suspended by a web, 

 going into the ground to undergo their changes. When 

 the defoliation of the trees continues for several years 

 the orchards become worthless. 



Remedy Taking advantage of the habit of the 

 female insect, which must crawl up the tree to deposit 

 its eggs, a band of gas tar or printer's ink is put around 



Fig. 120 The Canker Worm 



