2C>6 



THE APPLE 



The green-fruit worm belongs to the genus Xylina. Slingerland 1 

 describes three species — Xylina automata, Xylina laticenerea, 

 and Xylina grotei. Dr. Riley 2 regarded the last two as varietal forms 

 of the first. The specific differences are slight, and as the feeding 

 habits are the same they may be considered as one species. Their 

 history is about as follows : The eggs are laid in the spring by 

 moths that have wintered in the adult stage or have just emerged 

 from the pupa state. The early feeding habits of the larvae seem 

 not to have been observed, but probably buds and leaves form their 



food. When discov- 

 ered eating the fruits, 

 the)' are about half 

 grown. During the 

 early part of June 

 they complete their 

 feeding, drop to the 

 ground, burrow down 

 2 or 3 inches, and 

 are transformed to 

 pupae in earthen cells. 

 About the middle of 

 September the moths 

 begin to come out ; 

 some, however (pos- 

 sibly those that pu- 

 pated late) remain 

 as pupae all winter, 

 the moths emerging in the spring. There is but one brood. 



Since these worms are voracious feeders, it would seem that the 

 arsenical sprays applied for codling moth would control them, but 

 apparently they do not. Possibly applications of arsenical poisons 

 made just as the buds begin to open, followed by further applica- 

 tions as the leaves unfold, would be effective. The presence of the 

 worms is usually not discovered until the fruit is attacked, and 

 then it is too late for preventive measures. By the next season the 

 injury is forgotten, or is not remembered as serious enough to 



1 M. V. Slingerland, entomologist, Cornell University. 



2 W. A. Riley, entomologist, Cornell University. 



Fig. 90. Larvae of the apple maggot (enlarged) 

 (Department of Entomology, Cornell University) 



