B 608 A6 S6 opy 1 NSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE-TREE: SUGGESTIONS AS TO THEIR CONTROL OR EXTERMINATION. PREPARED BY JAMES M. SOUTHWICK, v « CURATOR, MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, ROGER WILLIAMS PARK, PROVIDENCE I ENTOMOLOGIST, RHODE ISLAND STATE BOARD Or AGRICULTURE. ISSUED BY GEO. A. STOCKWELL, SECRETART RHODE ISLAND STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. PROVIDENCE : E, L, FREEMAN & spNS, PRINTERS TO THE STATE. 1900, o H SBkos PREFATORY NOTE. There is no fruit cultivated in Rhode Island so generally useful and sat- isfactory as the apple. Yet from lack of knowledge, or by neglect, a large percentage of each crop is wasted, and at least one-third of the fruit offered for sale is wormy, and its money value seriously reduced. The first general principle for improvement of these conditions is clean cultivation, embracing careful pruning and covering the scars with suita- ble paint to prevent the entrance of insects and water. The cutting down of trees badly infested with vermin, and past usefulness, and prompt burning ; keeping the ground clean ; turning up the soil around the trees i<> bring bidden insect forms to the surface, where they are exposed to birds and extremes of beat and cold, are necessary to profitable cultivation. Good fertilization will also give to the trees strength to resist the attacks of parasites. The accompanying suggestions describe briefly certain species of insects thai a Rhode Island farmer may discover working in and about his trees, followed by a list of insecticides for beneficial appli- cation, and a mention of birds, toads, and insects that should be protected and encouraged to resort to the orchard. It has been demonstrated by the examination of their stomachs that 6 per cent, of the total food of Massachusetts toads is rose beetles, 5 percent, w ire worms. Hi per cent, cut worms, 9 per cent, tent eaterpilars, and ."> per cent, curculios, with an aggregate of 80 per cent, of noxious insects In general. In the following list the words larva singular' and larva' plural apply to the forms commonly called caterpillars, grubs, and worms. For complete and accurate descriptions, read "Insects Injurious to Fruits," by William Saunders. F. U.S. c. ; "Half Hours with Insects," I>r. A. S. Packard, Jr.; "Injurious Insects of the Farm and Garden," Mary- Treat ; Bulletin 46, Natch Experiment Station, Amherst. Mass. ; to which publications the writer has frequently referred in preparing this paper. Further inquiries regarding insects and specimens for identification may be addressed to Mr. James M. Southwick. 21 \\ hitmarsh Street, Provi- dence, R. I. : or Museum of Natural History, Roger Williams Park, Providence, R. I. INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE APPLE-TREE. BARMFUL BEETLES. TWo-sTriped Apple-tree Boreb saperda Candida). The larva is three-quarters inch long, white, with brown head. Girdles under the bark in the lower trunk, and even under ground. Adult, three-fourths inch long, creamy-striped, and with long horns. Beneficial factors. Woodpeckers. Wash the trunk with a paint made of soft-soap, thinned with a strong solutii t washing soda m water, during June and July, or wrap the trunk loosely with wire gauze or mosquito-netting from late April to September. Extract the larva with knife or wire. Spotted Boreb saperda cretata). Habits and appearance much like two-striped apple-tree borer. Rare in Rhode Island. Beneficial factors. -Treatment like two-striped apple-tree borer. A.p plied higher up onto the lower branches. Flat-headed Boreb crysobothris femorata). Larva, anterior end very large, straw-colored, and footless; in the trunk and low branches. Adult, halt an inch, dark green bronze. Beneficial factors. W Ipeckers, ants, ichneumon ilies. and the s
Macrodactylus subspinosus . This yellowish drab beetle is well known, attacking the rose ami grape. Eggs and larva' all under ground. Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads, jarring the trees, spading up. and hoi water on the ground. Cloaked Chrysomela (Glyptocelis crypticus). A stout, clyndrical, ash gray beetle, one-third inch long, eating leaves in May and June. Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads. Paris green sprays. LICK. W'moi.i.n Louse (Schizoneura ia,,'nj<,-a . Sucking juice from the barb and roots. Beneficial factors. Birds, spiders, several Hies, the lady-bird beetles, and their larva'. Hot soap-suds or hot water poui.-d on the roots. Carbon disulphide at the roots. Kerosene emulsion sprays on the branches. Oyster-Shell Bare Louse {Mytilaspis pomorum) and Scurfv Bare Louse Chionaspis furfurus). Beneficial factors.— Birds, a species of mite, lady-bird beetles, and their larva'. Spray with kerosene emulsions. Scrape off and burn dead bark. Whitewashing. 8 Apple-tree Aphis (aphis malifolice). White or yellow green Louse, sucking the juice of the leaves. Beneficial factors. All small birds, lady-bird beetles, and their larva', lace-winged, golden-eyed Hies. Scrape off and burn dead bark, spray with kerosene emulsions. Tree Eoppers. Do very little damage. MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES. Tent Caterpillak (Clisiocampa americana). Beneficial factors. Orioles, cuckoos, ichneumon flies, and a mite. The copper spot beetle, or fiery searcher (Calosoma calidum), and the bronze and green searcher [Calosoma scrutator). They both eat all sorts of larvae. Wipe down the nests or burn them out early in the morning or just before dusk. Destroy in June and early .Inly, the silky, yellowish, oval cocoons, simn in out-houses, under fence-rails and clapboards. Forest Tent Caterpillar (Clisiocampa sylvatica). Eating the leaves in May and June. I'„ neficial factors. The natural enemies are about the same as those of t he tent caterpillar. As additional remedy, tie burlap or cloth a foot wide around the trees, bend it over at the top. and keep the underside sticky with tar or printing ink. Tussock Moth (Notholophus leucostigma). Larva very hairy, black, yellow, and white, with red head. Adult male an ashy gray moth; the female a whitish, hairy, wingless, gtub-like creature. Beneficial factors. — Various rlies, toads. Scrape out all the white silk and hairy cocoons from under fence-rails, clapboards, and the crevices in the bark of the trunk and lower limbs, and bum them. Spray Paris green, and wrap the unattacked trees to prevent the ascent of caterpillars. Canker-Worm Moths, spring brood, and fall brood. The larvae change under ground, and issue from October to December, and from March until May. Beneficial factors. — Birds, particularly the cedar waxwing, flies, wasps, a mite, and the assassin bugs. Bind the trees with burlap, as for the forest tent caterpillar, from October until June. Scrape off all loose bark anil burn it, then whitewash the trunk, adding a teaspoonful of Paris green to a pail of wash. Yellow-necked Caterpillar (Datana ministra). They swarm together and eat the leaves, and change under ground. Beneficial factors. — Toads and ichneumon Hit's. Crush them as they hang, or cut off the branches full of larva? and burn them. Red-humped Caterpillar (Oedemasia concinna). Hating the leaves, and changing on and under ground. Beneficial factors. — Jar them down onto a sheet, and treat also as the yellow-necked caterpillar. Fall Web Worm (Hyphantria canea). The moth is milk white. Spreads one inch. Hairy caterpillars, eat during June, July, and August. Beneficial factors. — Cuckoos, probably, and the spined soldier bug. Cut off and bum the branches and webs. Giant Silk-Worm {Samia cecropia). The large larva is green, with blue and red tubercles. Adult moth brown and red, spreading five to seven inches, Beneficial factors. — Birds, ichneumon Hies. Crush them by hand. Gather from small brandies and bushes the large brown cocoons, and burn them. American Silk-Worm [Telea polyphemus). Larva green, with gold side- bars. Adult spreads live inches, yellow brown, a transparent spot in each wing, a broad, black border around those in the bind wings. Beneficial factors. -Birds, ichneumon Hies, small rodents. Collect and burn the large cocoons that tall to the ground rolled up in a lea!'. Eyed Sphinx (Smerinthus excecatus). Larvseeal Leaves at nigbt. Larva, green, two and one-half inches, changes under ground Narrow-winged moth, three inch spread, upper wings fawn, bind wings rose color, with black spot and blue center. Does little barm. Beneficial factors. — Birds, ichneumon Hies, tall digging to expose the under ground Conn. Apple Sphinx {Sphinx gordius). Larva, apple green, with violet side- bars, two and one-half inches, changes under ground. Adult, gray, black, and brown, expands three inches. Does little harm. Beneficial factors.— Enemies and treatment the same as eyed sphinx. Lappet Moth {Tolypt velleda), Larva in June and .July, two inches, 10 blue gray, warty, and hairy: cocoon on the branches, of brown silk and hairs. Adult, two inches, blue gray and woolly. Does little harm. Beneficial factors. I J i ids, toads. Leaf Rollers. Two or three species of small caterpillars, developing into small moths. They silk the leaves together, eating them, as well as young fruit, during June, July, and August. They change within the folded leaves. Beneficial factors. — Birds, ichneumon (lies, Paris green sprays, and Crushing the folded leaves. l.i a i" Crtjmpler (Phycis indigenella). The larva in late summer ; one- half inch : head, red brown : body, green brown, silks the leaves onto the branches, and changes inside. Beneficial factors.- Ichneumon and tachina ilies. Burn the leaves off in the winter, or pick them by hand and hum them. Spotted l'>n> Moth Tmetocera ocellana). Larva, a naked brown cater- pillar, three-quarters inch, eating buds and young fruit ; lives in silk- lined (dusters of blackened leaves. Moth in July, half inch spread, ash gray and dusky hrown. Beneficial factors. — Birds. Take off, and crush or hum the leaf clusters and damaged fruit. Apple-bud Worm {Eccopsis malana). Larva, pale, pale green, with yellow head, black dotted ; eats and changes on the leaves and tips of branches in June, August, and September, Adult moth, small, mottled green hrown. with dusky hind wings. /;. neficial factors.— Birds, Paris green sprays, and hand cleaning. Many-dotted Apple Worm Tfolophunq malana). Larva, light green, white lined, and spotted ; eat from the under side of the leaves, changing inside the leaf. Moth, ash gray, spreads one inch, moderate damage. Beneficial factors.- Birds, Paris green sprays, and jarring onto a sheet wet with kerosene. Apple-leaf Sewee [Phoxopteris hammondi). Larva, yellow green, yellow head : feeds inside a leaf sewed together. Moth, white and hrown. /;. leficial factors. — Birds, (lather and burn leaves in the autumn. Leaf Skeletonizes {Pempelia hammondi). Larva, pale hrown. draws leaves together and changes within. Moths fly in May and dune; pur- plish may. with silver hands, oiiedialf inch, 11 Beneficial factors.— Ichneumon Hies, Paris green sprays, and hand picking. Palmeb Worm ( Ypsolophus pometellus). Larva, yellow green, striped body, with black dots, yellow head, and one-half inch long, eating in colo- nies, changes among the leaves, on hark, or on the ground. Adult moth is ash gray, sprinkled with blaek. Beneficial factors. — Toads, Paris green sprays, jarring onto a sheet, and burning of all rubbish under the trees. Climbing Cut-worms. Several species. Larva, naked, one inch to two inches long, changes under ground. Adult moths, one and one-half to two inches, gray and brown. Beneficial factors. Birds, toads, Paris green sprays, jarring on a sheet, burlap bands around the trees, hot water on the ground, and spading. Lime-tree Winter-moths {Hybernia tiharia). Larva, a span worm; head, red, with a Y mark: body, yellow, with blaek lines; feeding in Ma\ and June; Changes under ground. Male moth, rusty hull and spotted, hind wings paler, emerges in October and November. Female, wingless. Beneficial factors. — Birds, Paris green sprays, jarring the tree and gen- eral treatment as for canker- worms. White Eugonia [Eugonia subsignaria). Larva, dark brown, with red head and tip, eating in May. Moth, white, one and one-half inch. Beneficial factors. — Birds, spraying with Paris green. Apple-leaf Mineb {Tischeria malifoliella). Larva, small, pale green, with brown head. Moth, brown, spreads a quarter-inch : does little ilamage. Beneficial factors. -Burn all dead leaves. Apple-tree Case-beareb {Gole.oph.ora maUvorella). Larva, yellow, with blackhead, feeding on the under side and skeletonizing leaves, and into the buds ; changes on the tree. Moth, half an inch, white and brown- flying at night. B< neficial factors.— Birds, and Paris green sprays. Resplendent Shield-beareb i Asphidisca sph ndorifi n lla). Larva, yellow brown, with dark head, one-eighth inch, .Line to September Tiny moth, gold and silvery. Beneficial factors,— iBirds, parasitic Hies, and Paris green. 12 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 021 489 528 6 Apple-leaf Bucculatrix (Bucculatrix pomifoliella). Larva, yellow green body, few hairs, brown head, one-half inch. Tiny moth, narrow wings, pale yellow and brown. Beneficial factors.— Birds, parasitic flies, oily emulsions sprayed or brushed on the twigs during winter. Codling Moth (Garpocapsa pomonella). Larva, head, brown; body, flesh color; bores up the core and out at one side of the apple. Moth, pale gray, with gold bands and brown spots, five-eighth of an inch. Eggs are laid on or near the fruit buds. Beneficial factors. — Ichneumon flies. Spray with Paris green after the blossoms fall and while the stem stands upright. Feed to pigs, or com- pletely destroy all fallen apples. Keep loose bark scraped off and burned. Wind old cloth, six inches wide, loosely around the trunk from June 1st to September 1st. Tie or tack it, and remove every ten days, killing all vermin hidden in or under it. Ash-gray Pinion (Lithophane antennata). Larva, pale green, with cream spots and bands ; bores in young apples in June, and changes under ground. Moth, ash gray, one and one-quarter inches. Beneficial factors. — Birds, toads, spading up the earth, hot water, and destroying fallen fruit. FLIES. Apple Maggot (Trypeta pominella). A footless, white grub, one-fifth inch long, eating in the fruit ; changes in the ground. Adult fly hi July ; body, black ; head and legs, red ; wings, white, black banded. Beneficial factors. — Destroy all fallen fruit. Apple Midge (Sciara mali). Grub, slender and glassy white, boring hi the flesh of the apple, and changing there. Adult, black above, with yel- low bands ; yellow below ; legs black. Does little damage. Beneficial factors.— Birds. Destroy fallen fruit.