6 BULLETIN 887, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
THE ADULT. 
The adult of the pear borer (PI. I, E) is a dainty little moth having 
an expanse of from 12 to 17 mm. and a length of from 7 to 10 mm. 
The wings are transparent, veined, bordered, fringed, and tipped 
with metallic purplish black or brownish black, the dark areas being 
partially covered beneath with yellow scales. The upper parts of 
the body are purplish black with white and yellow markings on the 
head, yellow markings on the thorax, and three more or less distinct 
yellow bands around the abdomen. The legs and underparts are 
heavily marked with golden yellow, the antennae and anal brush 
usually being marked with the same color. The colors throughout 
have a metallic luster, especially in fresh specimens. The scales rub 
off easily and there is considerable variation in color marks on this 
account, especially with specimens taken in the field. 
Table II, based on field and laboratory notes, indicates the time 
of year when moths are found issuing in different localities. 
TaAe II.— Time of issuing of year borer moths in different localities. 
% 
Year. 
Month 
and day. 
1911 
Aug. 15 
1911 
Aug. 27 
1912 
June 4 
1913 
May 13 
1915 
June 21 
1915 
Apr. 29 
1915 
Apr. 26 
1916 
Mar 19 
1916 
July 20 
1916 
July 22 
1917 
June 11 
1918 
Hay 11 
1918 
June 1 
1919 
June 18 
Locality. 
Remarks. 
French Creek, W. Va . 
....do 
....do 
Moorefield, W. Va 
French Creek, W. Va . 
Gadsden, Ala 
Loye Station, Miss — 
French Creek, W. Va . 
....do 
....do 
....do 
....do 
....do 
Quincy, Pa 
One moth issued. 
Do. 
First moth of season issued. 
Moth issued from cocoon found April 18. 
First moth of season issued. 
Moths were issuing from cocoons on apple. 
2 moths had issued from cocoons. 
8 moths issued from May 19 to June 2. 
2 moths from material brought from Maine. 
Moth issued from cocoon from Michigan. 
Moth issued that had pupated 23 days before. 
First moth of season issued. 
Moths issuing in abundance. 
Many moths flying in apple orchard. 
The foregoing table shows that the earliest record for moths is 
April 26, at Love Station, Miss. At French Creek, W. Va., where 
the rearing work was done, moths issued from May 11 to August 27, 
emergence covering a period of 108 days. 
oviposition. 
Many attempts were made to observe oviposition before the act 
was finally witnessed. Ovipositing females were first observed on 
June 18-19, 1919, in a large apple orchard at Quincy, Pa. The 
weather at the time was clear and warm and oviposition took place 
during the brighter part of the day, being most active from 10 a. m. 
to 4 p. m. 
A series of badly infested trees were located and by visiting one 
tree after another a number of female moths were found hovering 
about the trunks and the bases of the larger branches. Their flight 
was rapid and wasplike but the light-colored markings of the ab- 
