INSECTS OF THE GARDEN 185 



an extremely important point, because the apple trees are 

 sometimes sprayed with poison solutions in the hope of 

 killing the newly hatched larva before it eats its way into 

 the apple, and if this be done when the blossoms are on, 

 practically all the honeybees in the neighborhood will be 

 killed. Besides, the poisons will probably be washed off 

 by rains at this season before the eggs are even laid, and 

 it will be a week or more before they hatch. ^ 



As many as eighty-five eggs have been found in a vial, 

 laid by a single codling moth. As the insect lays its eggs 

 singly and flits actively about in the process, the eggs 

 come to be pretty well distributed, generally one to an 

 apple, though sometimes several are found on the same 

 fruit. In the northernmost sections of the United States 

 the codling moth has generally about one and one-half 

 broods a year, i.e., those that emerge early give rise to a 

 second brood, while the late ones produce but one. In 

 all the great middle fruit belt there are regularly two 

 broods, and farther south there are three. 



An example in arithmetic might be made as follows : Suppose 

 there are fifty apples in a peck ; how many might a codling moth 

 spoil if she lays fifty eggs on as many apples, and half of these eggs 

 hatch female moths, and in the second brood, again, each lays fifty 

 eggs on fifty apples? Ans. 26 pecks. 



If a downy woodpecker eats one codling-moth larva a day from 

 November to April inclusive, 180 days, what might be the value 

 of its work to an orchard if apples are fifty cents a bushel ? 



Ans. $585. 



apple at this point. The eggs are laid anywhere on the surface of the 

 apple and sometimes even on the leaves near it. 



1 If spraying is resorted to, it should be done after the petals fall and 

 before the calyx lobes close together. 



