REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I913 13 



INJURIOUS INSECTS 



CODLING MOTH 



Carpocapsa pomonella Linn. 



Observations the past season, in continuation of the preceding 

 four years' work with the codling moth, show the efficacy in the 

 Hudson valley of one thorough, timely spraying under normal crop 

 conditions. The tabulation of the results for 1909-12 inclusive, 

 demonstrates the possibility of obtaining over 97.5 per cent of 

 worm-free fruit as a result of one such application. 



There appears to be doubt in some quarters as to the feasibility 

 of this method, and for this reason the work has been continued to 

 the extent of keeping watch upon subsequent developments. The 

 same orchards were kept under observation, and on examining the 

 fruit last fall it was estimated that Mr W. H. Hart had obtained 

 in his Titusville orchard, between 97 and 99 per cent of worm-free 

 apples on both Baldwins and northern spys. The orchard con- 

 tains about 1600 trees and this year will average about 4 barrels 

 a tree. It has been the owner's practice to spray but once a 

 season for the codling moth, which has been the rule for the last 

 five years at least, aside from a few experimental plots in 1909 and 

 1910. Repeated tests in earlier years show that under the same 

 conditions unsprayed or check trees would have 25 per cent or more 

 wormy apples. This limited amount of spraying not only pre- 

 vented injury by the codling moth, but checked most other insect 

 pests and controlled whatever fungous diseases may have been 

 present. The apples were large in size, smooth, and of excellent 

 color, while the foliage remained vigorous until the end of the 

 season. 



Similar observations in the orchard of Mr Edward Van Alstyne 

 showed a very satisfactory condition, the trees which had been 

 sprayed but once producing 95 per cent or more of worm-free 

 apples, while two rows which received a second treatment in early 

 August for the late brood of apple worms, yielded about 97 per 

 cent nonwormy fruit. In size, smoothness and color, little could be 

 desired, while the trees are in a thoroughly vigorous condition. 



The important point in the case of these two orchards is that it 

 has been the practice during recent years to spray but once annually 

 for the codling moth and that, as a result of this minimum treat- 

 ment, the pest has been controlled very satisfactorily and, if any- 

 thing, conditions have improved from year to year. The work in 



