The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-09
FARM, FIELD, GARDEN
The Life History Of the De-
structive Goblin Moth.
FERTILIZERS FOR THE GARDEN.
The Management Of Weeds-Guarding
Against the Cucumber Beetle-Ine
AndaIusian Poultry.
From A State Horticultural Bulletin.


on the wing about the time of the opening
of the apple blossoms, when the female de-
posits her tiny yellow eggs snugly in the
calyx or eye, just as the young apple Is
forming: in q few instances they have
been observed in the hollow at the stalk
end, and occasionally on the smooth sur
face of the cheek of the apple. In about
week the egg matches, and the tiny worm
at once begins to eat through the apple to
the core. Usually it's castings are pushed
out through the hole by which 1t has en-
tered, the passage being enlarged from
time to time for this purpose. Some OF
the castings commonly adhere to the
apple, hence, before the worm is full
grown, infested fruit may generally be de-
tected by the mass OF reddish brown
exuvia protruding from the eye. Some
times as the larva approaches maturity
it eats passage through the apple at the
side, and out OF this opening thrusts its
castings, and through it the larva, when
full grown, escapes. The head and upper
portion of the first segment of the young
larva are usually black. but as 1t APP
proaches maturity these change to brown
color. The body is of flesh color, or
pinkish tint, more highly colored on the
back; it is also sprinkled with minute, ele-
waited points. from each of which there
arises single fine hair.
In three or four weeks from the time of
Matching the early brood of Larvae attain
full growth, when the occupied apples
generally fall prematurely to the ground,
sometimes with the worm in them, but
more commonly after it has escaped. The
larvae, which leave the apples while still
, nit hnr 81
branches to the trunk of the tree, or let
themselves down to the ground by tine
silken thread, which they spin at will. In
either case. whether they crawl up or
down, the greater portion OF them lind
their way to the trunks of the trees, where,
under the rough bark and in cracks and
crevices, they spin their cocoons.
Having selected suitable hiding place,
the larva constructs papery-iOoklng
siken cocoon, which is white inside, and
disguised on the outside by attaching to
the silky threads small fragments of the
bark of the tree or other available debris.
After the cocoon is completed. the change
to the chrysalis takes place in the early
brood in about three days. At first the
pupa is of pale yellow color, deepening
in a day or two to pale brown; the insect
remains in this condition about two weeks,
when the moth escapes.
Each moth is capable of laying on an
average probably not less than fifty eggs.
but these are not all matured at once; by
careful dissection they may be found in
the body of the moth in different stages of
development. Hence they are deposited
successfully, extending over period
probably of from one to two weeks or
more. Add to this the fact that some of
the moths are retarded in their de-
~, h. ND 10 m
account for the finding of Larvae of vari-
Gus sizes at the same time; indeed, some
times the later specimens from the first
brood will not have escaped from the fruit
before some of the young larve of the Sec
ond brood make their appearance, the
broods thus, as it were, overlapping each
other and very much extending the period
for the appearance of the winged insects.
The moth conceals itself during the day
time, and appears only at night, and, since
it is not readily attracted by light, IS sell
| dom seen. The second brood of moths are
! usually on the wing during the latter half
of July, when they pair, and in few days
the later brood of larve, gener-
ally selecting for this purpose the
later apples. These larvae mature
during the autumn or early winter
months; if they escape befor the fruit Is
gathered, they seek some sheltered nook
under the loose bark of tree or other
| convenient hiding place, but if carried
| with the fruit into the cellar, they may
| often be found about the barrels and bins
| in which it is stored. a favorite hiding
| place is between the hoops and slaves of
| the apple barrels, where they ale found
| sometimes by hundreds. l. thus provided
| with snug winter quarters. and through
| negligence allowed to escape, the fruit
| grower must expect TO suffer increased
| loss tor his want of care. Having fixed
| on a suitable spot, the larva spins its little
| tough cocoon, firmly fastened to the place
! of attachment. and within this it remains
| in the larval state until early the following
| spring, when it changes to a brown chrys-
| ais, and shortly afterwards the moth ap-
! pears, to begin the work of the opening
! season.
| BESIDES injuring the apple, it is very de-
! structive to the pear: it is also found on
the wild crab and occasionally on the plum
| and peach. Sometimes two larye will be
| found on the same fruit.
| REMEDIES.
| One of the most effective methods yet
| devised for reducing the numbers of this
| insect is to trap the larvae and chrysalldes
and destroy them. This is best done by
| applying bands around the trunks of the
| trees about six inches in width; strips of
| Old sacking, carpet, cloth, or fabric OF any
| KIND Will serve the purpose, and, although
| not so durable. many use common brown
| paper. Whatever material is used, it
should be wound entirely around the tree
| once or twice and fastened with string or
tack. Within such Enclosures the
| larv1 hide and transform. The
bands should not be applied later
| than the first of June, and visited every
| eight or ten days until the last of August
| each time taken off and examined, and
| all the worms and chrysglides found under
| = ,-aI- hnu oh .tlI ala -,
| tied once after the crop is secured. Some
| persons prefer to use narrower bands. not
more than four inches wide. and fasten
| them with a tack, while others secure
! them in their place by merely tucking the
! end under. Usually the cocOons under
| the handages are partly attached TO the
/ tree and partly to the bandage, 50 that
| when the latter is removed the cocoon is
! torn asunder, when ii often happens that
the larva or chrysalis will fall to the
| ground. ami, if it escapes notice, may there
| complete its transformations.
| For spraying apple or pear trees, use
| one pound Paris green TO 200 gallons of
| water. II Is best to first mix the poison
! with small quantity Of water, making O
| thick batter. and then dilute the latter
and add TO the reservoir or spray tank.
| By the addition of about two rounds
| lime which has been Stacked and strained
! there Will be no danger of burning Nh q
foliage. Mix the whole thoroughly. and
| spray soon after the fruit has set while
| yet IN an upright position. At least two
| applications should be made. the second
III about ten days. 1t would be still bet
| ter 10 make three or four applications al
| intervals. For smaller quantities use a
| teaspoonful Paris green TO a pailful Of
| water.
For early apples, do not spray later than
the latter part OF June. Very little bene-