White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1923-04-20
The COOLING MOTH and
HOW TO CONTROL 1T
BY E. j. Newcomer. Entomologist,
and w. D. Whitcomb. Assistant
Entomologist

culture, Bureau of Entomology,
Tho codlling moth is the most seri-
GUS insect pest with which the apple
and pear growers Of Washington
have to contend. Losses during 1922
We're so high that a special effort
should be made to use proper control
methods during the coming season.
The codling moth is injurious in its
larval or worm" stage only, and the
only injury of any consequence is to
the fruit. Control measures are di-
rectcd ohIfly eigainst Ehe worms
but knowledge of the habits of the
insect is essential for intelligent ap-
plication Of these measures.
Habits and Seasonal History
The codling moth spends the win
ter as a worm in IA cocoon. In the
spring these worms change to pupae
and then to moths, the first moths
appearing soon after the apple trees
are in bloom. AT this time the emp
ty pupal cases can be found in the
orchard, protruding from the bark or
the soil at the bases of the. trees The
moths lay most of their eggs at dusk,
but will not lay until the early even
ing temperature is 600 r.. or higher.
Egg laying; continues for four or five
weeks, usually reaching it's height
during the first week in June.
The eggs, which begin the first
generation Of the year, are deposited
on foliage or fruit, and require 10
days or longer to hatch during cool
weather, the time decreasing as the
weather becomes warmer The first
eggs usually hatch during the first
week of June. The newlyhatched
worms seek out the fruit, burrow into
it, more than half of the worms en-
tering through the calyx cups The
point where two fruit are touching is
also a favorite place. Worms somn-
times feed in leaf veins and terminal
shoots but seem unable TO develop on
this kind of food. Worms are hat
ching for period, of about month.
After three or four weeks of feed
ing, the worms are full-grown and
leave the fruit, usually beginning to
leave it during the last week Of June
ana continuing to do so throughout
July. These worms spin cocoons In
sheltered places on the trunk or in
the soil, and while a few OF them
! remain until the following year, most
of them pupate and produce moths
within two OR three weeks. This
completes the first generation or
| "brood"
| The moths Of the first generation
deposit the eggs of tho second gem
Grafton, and since the weather is
much warmer these eggs hatch In
six or seven days. The first worms
4 Of the second brood appear shortly
after the middle of July, and contin-
ue to attack the fruit in large num-
4 bers for about six weeks. They
worms finally leave the fruit and
spin cocoons in which to pass The
winter. In some parts of Washing
ton a small number Of them produce
moths the same year, and few
third brood eggs may be laid, but
these are of little importance.
The most important part OF this
seasonal history from the standpoint
of control is The time when the
worms are Matching and attacking
the fruit. 1t will be seen that this
to October, except for a short period
early in July. Reference to the ac-
companying chart will show this
| clearly.
How to Control the Cooling Moth
The fruit grower must depend
largely on the intelligent and efficient
application of arsenate of lead
sprays to control the codling moth
l No reliance should be placed on
other spray materials as they are
either less effective or OF no valuf.
DO not experiment with new and
untried preparations. Trap lights
bats of various kinds, and cultiva-
ton of the soil are of very little OF
no benefit in controlling the codline
moth.
Spraying may be supplemented by
other methods, especially when the
worms have become n serious prob.
lem. Many of the first brood OF
worms that escape being poisoned by
the spray may be destroyed by prop
er thinning methods. All clusters
should be thinned to one fruit. AL
fruits already wormy should be re
moved and destroyed. Burn them
: bury them, feed them to hogs, OF
! throw them into barrel Of water
with a little fuel oil on top. This
thinning must be done before July l
as after that many worms will have
left the fruit and will escape Gestruc
ton. d.
Banding the trees may also bt
practiced, and is often a valuable
help in reducing the number o
worms in badly infested orchard
Not more than one-Lhird of the tot
, al number OF worms will be caught
and in orchards where the worms ar
being held in check effectively b.
spraying and thinning, banding Is ;
: useless expense. If the trees are t
q be banded the loose bark should b.
t scraped off, all dead wood removed
e and cracks and holes filed up as ia
as possible, forcing many OF TIL
:. worms to spin cocoons under tn
. bands. The bands may be made o
, burlay or other cloth, folded once o
D twice. and several inches wide. The
e should be fastened on the tree witt
one or two finishing nails driven int
the trunk, leaving only enough pro
truding to hold the band Thcs
& bands must be in place by the middl
e of June, and should be removed an
y examined every ten days from Jul
9 to September l and again nfte
harvest. All worms and pupa
: found in the bands or on the trunk
e Of the trees sho,,ld be destroyed.
: The orchardst should be equippe
] with efficient apparatus for sprayin