LEPIDOPTERA 



165 



it eats its way into the core. The affected fruit usually falls to the ground 

 before ripening. The full-grown larva burrows out of the apple and 

 pupates in a cocoon under the rough bark of a tree. After two weeks in the 

 pupal stage the adult of the first brood emerges and lays its eggs on later 

 apples. The larvae are carried into the cellar with the fall and winter ap- 

 ples, pupate in the crevices of the barrels or boxes, and remain till the fol- 

 lowing apple-blossom time. Spraying the fruit with Paris green soon after 

 the petals fall and again in about two weeks will greatly reduce the loss. 

 At this time the fruit stands with the blossom end up and the poison will 

 then reach the place where the larva hatches." 1 The larva does not remain 

 long in the apple after it falls to the ground. Hence if the apples are burned 

 or fed to hogs at once the larvae will be destroyed. 



Fig. 134. The codling moth: a, Apple showing burrow; b, place where 

 the worm entered; d, chrysalis or pupa; e, larva or worm; /, moth with 

 wings closed; g, moth with wings spread; h, head end of larva; i, cocoon 

 in which the larva changes to a chrysalis. All about life size except h. 

 (Riley.) 



The geometrids are of interest because of the peculiar phase of protec- 

 tive resemblance possessed by their larvae. They cling by their posterior 

 legs to the branches of trees or other plants, and, holding the body out 

 straight, stiff, and still, look, for all the world, like short, stubby branches. 

 My little daughter searched for fully five minutes within a few inches of a 

 green specimen on a sweet-pea vine before discovering it. When disturbed 

 the caterpillar swings down by a silken cord till it reaches the ground. Most 

 of them are leaf eating and they are sometimes so numerous as to do great 

 injury. Among them are the canker-worms (Fig. 135), currant span- 

 worms, two or three species which feed upon the grape, and the raspberry 

 geometrid. They may be poisoned by Paris green, since all insects with 

 biting mouth parts can be killed by poisoning the food with arsenical 

 sprays. 



1 Jackson and Daugherty's " Agriculture," p. 321. 



