U. S. D. A., B. E. Bui. 80, Part V. D. F. I. I., September 20, 1910. 



PAPERS ON DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECTS AND INSECTICIDES. 



ON THE NUT-FEEDING HABITS OF THE CODLING MOTH. 



By S. W. Foster, 

 Engaged in Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The codling moth (Carpocapsa pomonella L.) has, up to the 

 present time, been considered as a serious enemy only to pome fruits. 

 It has, however, frequently been found in peaches and plums. There 

 are several European records of walnut infestation by this species, 

 but these reports were carefully sifted by Dr. L. O. Howard in 1887 a 

 and found to lack sufficient evidence to definitely prove that the 

 codling moth ever feeds either upon nuts or oak galls. C. B. Simp- 

 son & records that Adkin, in 1895 and in 1896, exhibited specimens 

 and gave details as to the rearing of this insect from chestnuts. In 

 March, 1908, at Siloam Springs, Ark., the writer found a full-grown 

 larva of this species with partially made cocoon inside a hickory 

 nut, but as there were no signs of feeding on the kernel it is probable 

 that the larva had gone in only for the purpose of hibernation and 

 as a safe place for pupating. 



NOTICE OF WALNUT INFESTATION. 



On October 2, 1909, while visiting the ranch of Mr. George Whit- 

 man, near Concord, CaL, the owner mentioned to the writer that 

 worms closely resembling the larvae of the codling moth were doing 

 serious injury to the walnuts on one of his trees. A large tree near 

 a pear-packing shed was closely examined and found to have over 

 50 per cent of the nuts infested by larvse of the codling moth. Larvae 

 in all stages from a few days old to full grown were found. Egg- 

 shells also were found on the outside of the hull of the nuts and on 

 the leaves, indicating that the eggs had been placed by the moth on 

 fruit and foliage promiscuously, as is customary in the case of apple 

 and pear. 



a Rept. Commissioner of Agriculture for 1887, pp. 92-94, 1888. 

 6 Bui. 41, Bur. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr., p. 19, 1903. 



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