The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1931-04-30
WATCH FOR THE MOTH!

1t will soon be time for the
fruit growers to begin the annual
battle with their most destructive
enemy, the codling moth. The dam
age caused by this insect last sea-
son was much less than that of the
previous year. This fact may be
attributed to more thorough and
more timely spraying, assisted by
extreme winte temperatures,
which caused a heavy mortality
among the er-wintering larvae.
As most of the codling moth lar
vac survived the mild winter, our
control measures this spring must
be more thorough and effective if
we expect to harvest a clean crop
of fruit as last year. Effective
control of any insect pest by
spraying depends on three things.
First, the spray material must be
efficient at the strength used;
second, the spray must be applied
at the time when it will have the
most effect in killing the pest; and
third, the spray must be applied
thoroughly. The control obtained
by any spray program depends to
a great extent upon the number
of worms that must be destroyed.
For the control of codling moth
larvae, arsenate of lead should be
used at the rate of 3 pounds to
100 gallons of water:
Each year summer oil is being
used with arsenate of lead and
more as an aid in cooling moth
control. Not only has it an ovicid-
al value. but it increases the eff
fectiveness of the arsenate of
leaed over longer period.
The calyx spray should be ap-
piled after most of the petals have
fallen and before the calyx lobes
have closed. Unless exceptionally
warm weather follows the falling
of the petals, to 10 days will
cups are closed.
The first cover spray is applied
to protect the small fruit from the
newly Matched worms. Under fav-
orable weather conditions, the first
worms are Matched 10 or IL days
after the first codling moth
emerges and eggs are laid. Ento-
mologists tell us that the codling
moth begin laying eggs when the
evening temperatures for consec-
utive days is above go degrees
Fahrenheit.
Moth emergence can be deter |
mined by the use of the moth |
traps. Every Orchardist should |
have from 3 to 6 moth traps in his |
orchard. Theses traps should be |
placed in the orchard within the
next week, cared for throughout |
the entire season, and daily rec
ord kept of the moth emergence.
The spray program for any orch |
ard should he based on the emery
ence record for that orchard and |
not by what the moth activity is
In a neighboring orchard. Two or
chards only half a mile apart
may vary at the peak of moth |
from 8 days to a week.
The use of the moth traps should
be supplemented by checking the
egg deposit. The first eggs are
laid on the leaves but later they
may be found ON the fruit. The egg
is pearly white. about the size Of
a pinhead and resembles thin !
convex disk. A few days after the
egg is laid red ring becomes APP
parent and the day before the
worm matches black spot, the |
head of the worm is easily seen.
By determining the moth emery
ence by the use of traps and check
ing the egg deposit by observa-
tion, a more efficient spray pro-
Gram NAV be outlined. whether |
arsenate Of lead alone or an oil |
lead arsenate combination is to be
used. |,