THE APPLE SUCKER. 1.5 



to be most numerous in the blossom buds or in folded leaves 

 close to them, and wereiirst noted on May I4th. 



LIFE-HISTORY. 



Briefly the life-history is as follows : The adult insects (Fig. 

 V, 2) appear early in June (first noticed on June 4th, 1904), and are 

 plentiful all through the summer. About the middle of September 

 they commence to lay their eggs, and continue until nearly the end 

 of October. The eggs are somewhat pear-shaped with the small 

 end produced into a fine thread-like process. Though usually 

 found in rows, they may occur singly, and are particularly nume- 

 rous in crevices of the bark, but may be found on the roughened 

 outer portions, in fact, generally over the stem. In these posi- 

 tions they remain until the following April, when they hatch out 

 into minute, flat, yellowish-brown larvae with red eyes. In about 

 eight or nine days they undergo a moult and one or more bluish 

 threads are seen passing out of the posterior end of the body, while 

 attached to each of these threads is a small oily-looking globule. 

 After another ten or twelve days a second moult takes place, the 

 larvae now being of a yellowish-green colour, and usually covered 

 with fine, bluish-white threads. The final moult is undergone 

 about eight or ten days later, the larvae pupating after another 

 seven or eight days. 



The pupae are variable in colour, though generally of a 

 vivid green, flatish, with prominent dark eyes and conspicuous 

 wing-buds. 



REMEDIAL MEASURES. 



When first noticed, that is to say, about the middle of April, 

 a sprayfluid consisting of one pound of soft soap to every three 

 gallons of water should at once be applied. 



Wherever the insect has been noticed in the spring, an 

 autumnal sprayfluid should be used to kill the adults. A paraffin 

 emulsion made as follows, has proved very effective. Dissolve 

 two pounds of soft soap in one gallon of boil ing water, and whilst 

 boiling add two gallons of paraffin, and beat up into a creamy 

 liquid. Then pump with force through a fine spray nozzle into 

 another vessel. To make a sprayfluid add ten gallons of water. 



For winter use soda and potash wash is recommended, viz. : 



Caustic Soda (70%) . . . . . . i Ib. 



Carbonate of Potash (80%) . . . . i Ib. 



Soft Soap . . . . \ Ib. 



Water . . . . . . . . . . 10 galls. 



The autumnal spraying is exceedingly important. 

 As this pest is undoubtedly well distributed in the Midlands, 

 infected trees should not be neglected. 



