488 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. VII, No. ir 
recently by Mokrzecki (4). His own papers record the only original 
observation^ on the species in America. The insect was first discovered 
by Prof. Crosby in July, 1906, at Ithaca, N. Y., when he found the seeds 
of crab apples to contain the partly grown larvae. His first report of his 
discovery appeared in 1908 (6, p. 38), and the following year he published 
his full account (7, p. 369). In the latter paper he summarizes most 
of the previously published accounts of the species and records in detail 
his own observations in regard to life history, habits, distribution, and 
host fruits and gives descriptions of the stages. His 1912 paper (9) 
consists of further r6sum£s of European literature. 
From the wide distribution of the species it is evident that it must have 
been present though undiscovered in America for a long time, but any 
statement as to the time of its introduction can be nothing more than 
speculation. However, that there have been many opportunities for its 
introduction in the past and that it has been repeatedly introduced in 
fruit from Europe can not be doubted. It may even have been brought 
to America before its discovery in Europe, and its establishment here may 
have been effected at that early time; for it is a historical fact that in 
the early days of American history apples were imported and their seeds 
planted by the colonists. Much of the early spread of the apple to the 
West was due to the Indians, who planted in favorable spots the seeds 
from apples given them by the settlers. These trees, planted mostly 
along the trails to the West, would form easy avenues of distribution, 
and it is quite likely 'that they and their progeny have aided in the 
spread of the insect. 
EFFECT UPON FRUIT 
The only externally visible effect of infestation is caused by the op¬ 
position puncture, which, after a few days, appears as a minute scar 
situated in a small, shallow dimple. From this scar to the seed extends 
a discolored line. Under ordinary circumstances of growth and infes¬ 
tation the fruit apparently is able to outgrow both of these manifesta¬ 
tions of injury. But occasionally, especially when fruit is scarce or the 
insects very abundant, the gross injury due to repeated puncturing at 
nearly the same spot causes permanent and deep dimpling, together with 
corky, discolored streaks in the flesh. However, even in 1915, when suit¬ 
able fruit was rather scarce, the season cold, and the chaldds abundant 
in the region of North East, Pa., such injury was the exception rather than 
the rule; and in 1914, when the converse of these conditions prevailed, 
no single case of severe distortion that could be attributed to this species 
was found. Distorted fruit is shown in Plate 38, A, B, C. 
Frequently injury caused by other insects is attributed to 
the apple-seed chalcid because at the time the injury is noted this 
species is the only one present. As an example of this, the case of an 
orchard near Clearfield, Pa., may be cited. The bulk of the fruit in this 
