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SOME PACIFIC COAST HABITS OF THE CODLING- MOTH. 



We have recently learned of certain interesting observations which 

 seem to indicate that the Codling Moth differs slightly in habit in Cal- 

 ifornia from its customs in the East. Mr. Koebele, writing us under 

 date of July 24, states that, at the end of May of the present season, 

 when the apples were about 1 inch in diameter, he noticed the moths 

 appearing in numbers. Soon after sunset they began to swarm around 

 the trees, chiefly near the top, and kept it up until dark. He noticed 

 small bats feeding upon them abundantly. This, he thinks, is the time 

 of oviposition. He noticed, however, that the eggs were chiefly laid 

 on the upper side of the fruit, and with pears often upon the stem. 

 Few of the larvae, according to his observations, entered the fruit at the 

 spot where the egg was deposited, but begiuning a slight hole at this 

 point, they left it after becoming slightly larger and entered the fruit 

 at the lower end. These observations were made in the Santa Cruz 

 Mountains. 



Similarly, Mr. B. D. Wier, in his Codling-Moth Notes, published in 

 the Pacific Rural Press of June 8, from which we have previously quoted, 

 states that, according to his observations, the egg is, as a rule, laid 

 elsewhere than in the calyx. 



THE EFFECT OF ARSENICAL INSECTICIDES UPON THE HONEY BEE. 



The prevailing opinion seems to favor the theory, that if arsenical 

 mixtures are sprayed or dusted upon fruit trees while the latter are in 

 bloom the bees which frequent them will be destroyed. With this 

 idea in view fruit-growers have very properly been cautioned not to 

 use these mixtures during the blooming season, and in fact this has 

 been urged as an argument against the use of these substances as 

 insecticides. 



The writer, while in Louisiana, was told by planters that dusting 

 Paris Green upon the cotton plants killed the bees which frequented 

 the blossoms thereon for the purpose of securing the nectar which was 

 contained in them. 



There appears, however, to be some good negative evidence bearing 

 upon the problem, which it will be well to consider before forming a 

 decided opinion in this really important matter. 



Mr. Edwin Yenowine, a fruit-grower near New Albany, Ind., is a very 

 strong advocate of the use of arsenical mixtures, as against both Cod- 

 ling Moth and Plum Curculio, and is also, to a limited extent, engaged 

 in apiculture. 



Some time ago, while spending a day with Mr. Yenowine, he reminded 

 me that several years ago he had written me as to the probable effects 

 on bees of the use, during the blooming season, of these arsenical mixt- 

 ures, and had received a very cautionary reply. It appears that in- 

 stead of following my advice he sprayed all sorts of fruits freely, both 



