12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



INJURIOUS INSECTS 



CODLING MOTH 

 Carpocapsa ponioncUa Linn, 



The apple worm, or larva of the codling moth, is such a common 

 pest that comparatively few appreciate the losses caused by its 

 operations, and altogether too many regard it as a pest which it is 

 almost useless to combat. This latter notion is a very erroneous 

 one. There is abundant data to prove not only the possibility, but 

 the practicability, of controlling this insect in a very satisfactory 

 manner. This is shown in a very striking way by the experiments 

 conducted last year. Even one thorough application resulted in the 

 production of nearly 99 per cent of worm-free fruit, while check 

 trees did not produce quite 73 per cent of sound fruit. These 

 experiments were continued the present season for the purpose of 

 testing more thoroughly and under varying conditions the relative 

 value of one or more sprays for the control of this serious pest. 



General observations. The season of 1910 has been remark- 

 able for the development of a large second brood and a consequent 

 prevalence of wormy apples. The work of this pest was very 

 evident in Genesee county as well as in the Hudson valley, and in 

 some unsprayed orchards over 50 per cent of the fruit had been 

 injured by the apple worm. May 30th there was a severe hail storm 

 in sections of the Hudson valley, and an examination of the wormy 

 fruit showed that from 50 to 60 per cent of the apple worms had 

 entered at points injured by the hail. Cacoecia larvae were rather 

 prevalent in one orchard and their operations were very frequently 

 followed by codling moth larvae entering at such places. Moreover, 

 badly rusted, rough spots on the fruit were also favorite points of 

 attack. Comparative freedom from codling moth injury was 

 observable in orchards where pigs or sheep had been allowed to 

 run, this being especially true if the animals had been pastured in 

 the orchards for several years, even in those where there was no 

 spraying. One codling moth larva was found spun up in a slight 

 depression on the under side of an apple resting on loose soil, and 



