Milford chronicle., 1929-05-24
STUDY ORCHARD
PESTSAT SUB-STATTON
Cooling Moth Appeared This
Year April e.. MANY Still In
Worm Stage.

Early in the spring of 1928, an en-.
Genealogical sub-station was estab.
lished at Camden by the University
of Delaware Agricultural Expert
ment Station. An adequate modern
insectary was erected for the pur-
pose of conducting extensive life
history studies on the major insect
enemies of the orchard and vine
yard. This work is under the super
vision of DR.. H. L. Dozier, Entomolo-
gist, with Mr.. L. L. Williams, As
sistant Entomologist, in charge of
the Camden insectary.
During the past season, many in
teresting and important observations
were made on the codling moth, or
iental fruit moth, curculio on apples
and peaches, the grape berry moth.
and the grape leaf hopper. Large,
screened outdoor cages were erect
ed, and stocked with large number
of worms and curculios last fall.
Close watch has been kept this
spring on the emergence of these
pests from their over-w1nter1ng
quarters, and this information is
now being sent out in cooperation
with Kent County Agent Russell E.
Wilson. In addition to these CEN
trail observation cages, eleven small
er ones located in widely separated
orchards have also been used to aid
in determining accurately the maxi
mum emergence of the codling moth.
On one property, near Magnolia, the
trunk of an apple tree was enclosed
with screen wire after hberatlng lOO
worms on it last year.
The first codling moth adult to IS
sue in these cages this season ap-
peared on April %. Due to the ex-
tremely variable, cold and wet, wea-
Their, emergency has been retarded
greatly, although much earlier than
nrevious seasons. The result has
been a struggling emergence, ana
although over so per cent of the
adults in the cages have issue, many
are still in the worm stage. A heavy
deposition of eggs took place during
the evenings of May IA and 10, and
these will take from seven to eight
DAYS to hatch at this season OF the
year. 1t is advisable, therefore, to
complete the second summer or
cover" spray on apples as soon as
possible. The frequent heavy wash
ing rains have greatly decreased the
maximum efficiency of the sprays
already applied, and it is essential
to have the fruit and foliage covered
with poison for the newly hatchlnS
worms.
Oriental fruit moths started to is
sue on April 4, much earlier than
the cooling moth, as usual and near
Nv all have emerged by this da+e.
The first eggs were obtained on
April 10. and Matched on May 3.
Huge numbers of eggs are now IN
the midst of Matching, and w1lted
peach twigs should show up in the
orchards within the next few days.
In a cage containing about IL push
els of late apple drops, 297 adults IS
sued between April to May IL,
showing that this insect is producing
considerable of the side-worm IN
jury on apples also.
Curculios started to issue from
Information as early as April III
the Camden section, and appear TO
he extremely numerous this season.
Unless thorough coverage is main
tanned at this time, serious losses
are inevitable. The earliest eggs
were found April &c, and eggs are
now Matching in numbers in the
field. Reports from Georgia ana
other states show that curculios are
more abundant this season than in
any year since 1921.
Grape berry moth adults started
to issue as early as May 1, but the
emergence has also been very stray
Cling. Earliest eggs were deposlteo
on May IL, and we can expect heaVy
egg laying in the vineyards from
now on. Grape leaf hoppers are
lust now making their appearance IN
the vineyards.