The record-union., 1898-04-23

the cylindrical body increases in diane
ter, and to the unaided eye the abdomi-
nal extremity has the appearance of
having been cut off The color of the
maggot is a dirty white to pale yellow
when put in a diluted solution of for
malin.
When an orange contains number
OF maggots the pulp will be partially
consumed and will yield under pressure
OF the hand. The puoarium is dark
brown, oval in shape and measures *
OF an inch in length. The perfect fly
bred by Mr.. Koebele-is yellow or
rather ocherous in color, with a few
scattering black hairs upon the thoraX
and head; the body and legs are covered
With very fine short hairs, but not suf-
hciently dense to obscure the yellow
color. The large compound eyes are
dark and prominent. The wings are
transparent and beautifully banded or
dashed With yellow near the base and
along the costal vein. with two Interrupt
tions to the tip. The bands cross the
wings obliquely and are yellowish; at
the tip of the wing and near the pos
terror margin the markings are dark,
o. rather clouded
=
according to Professor w. G. Johnson.
who bred them in confinement at Cham
paign, Ill, in January, 1896. they took
thirty-eight and thirty nine days to pass
through this stage of their existence,
emerging as perfect flies from the last
of February to the Sd of March
Professor Lawrence Bruner conduct
ed similar experiments. and these took
Osfv- -fgo1 Il
positive evidence as tc the time re
quired for them to lass through this
quiescent stage. In tits time fruit
cars packed with infested oranges in
Morelos could be hauled to Chicago and
the fruit removed. possibly leaving
some larvae that had concealed them
selves in the dirt and rubbish on the
floor. The cars could be reloaded with
other freight, or Sent ont here empty
to the orange districts. where before
reloading they would be swept out,
leaving the flies to develop where they
would find abundance of food for the
propagation of their kind This is not
a very pleasant condition of affairs to
contemplate, but unless the Govern
ment prohibits the importation of
oranges from those infested districts
and other oranges things Of disgust.
The distinguishing characters Of the
Mexican orange maggot'' from the
peel worm" found here, are that the
former is footless, works in the min
and has no sillIen thread, whereas the
peel worm as heretofore stated. has
six spinX legs and ten pro-legs and
spins a silk thread with which it can
suspend itself, and also spins cocoon
TO protect the chrysalis in its transfer
nation to the winged moth If the
larva completes its growth before the
orange drops it spins it's cocoon among
the leaves.
The complete life history of this moth
is not known, but it appears to have
but one generation each year, or at
least only one that attacks the fruit
1t must have some other food to sustain
its kind, for larva that 1 have bred
in confinement only remained fourteen
days in the chrysalis before changing to
the perfect moth. In this rapid devel-
opment they differ from the Goblin
moth as the latter remains in the larva
and chrysalis state in their cccoons
under the rough bark and other such
places from September until the end
of March or April
The moth has wing spread of nearly
three-fourths of an incl: the fore wings
are broWnish with dark markings at the
tips and where the wings overlap each
other over the body. The hind wings
and legs are silvery.
Considering the tima this moth has
been with US and the fact that there
has been an abundance Of fruit for its
increase [ am inclined to believe that
it Will never become n serious pest.
However every precaution should be
taken to check it. Probably the best
method is to have n man or boy go
through the orchard every day during
the time the oranges are colorng
When an orange has been attacked it
drops to the ground and generally the
worm remains in the fruit With a
single blow with a hoe a hole eight
inches deep can be made, the orange
pulled into it and covered up. AS this
moth makes its cocoon and chrysalis
above ground in the dry leaves, it will
be impossible for it to escape when
buried to such a depth
Spiders love the protection afforded
by the evergreen foliage Of orange
trees, their webs capture the moths, 50
they should not be disturbed An
other important aid is the bats and like
the spiders they delight in the dense
shade Of the orange tree where they
suspend themselves among the leaves
during the warm day and at night they
sally forth to capture moths and ether
nlght-hying insects. Paris green and
arsenical pOisons are injurious to cit
rus trees, so should not be used.
In Central America q miner" attacks
oranges, burrowing through the oil
cells Of the skin when the fruit is green.
When the orange is ripe the meander-
ing course of the miner is noticeable
by the drying up of the skin over the
part attacked. Before the arange ma
lures this worm leaves the fruit. SO we
have not been able to find it. No
oranges are brought from that district
In a commercial way, but are some
times found in the possession of passen-
gers and are promptly destroyed. Such
a pest would impair the appearance
and market value of the fruit, but from
the time and manner Of its attack I
doubt if it would cause the orange to
decay
In Japan peel worm" is found that
IS similar to ours in its work and prob
ably identical. It must be q rare m
sect there. for it is very seldom we
ind an orange that has been attacked
All the oranges are fumigated with ox-
ira strength hydrocyanic acid gas in
alright rooms before theg are per-
mitted to be placed On the market
When the fruit is treated during the
day it is shut up for not less than three
hours and the last batcl. remains IN the
fumigating chambers all night. Under