This insect is often very destructive, attacking the blossom and
leaf-buds, and in a few mouthfuls destroying that which must make the
leaves and fruit, "nipping in the bud" the entire crop of fruit and
debilitating the tree. This worm works in early spring, as soon as the
buds begin to open; it delights in the prominent terminal buds and its
work stops all new growth, causes many leaves to turn brown, and thus
brings to the notice of the orchardist its bad work. The moth measures
about three-quarters of an inch across its wings, and is mainly a gray
color, the middle of the fore wings being lighter, or creamy. This
insect first appears on the buds as a small, dark brown worm, about
one-fourth of an inch long, with shining black head and shoulders. It
imbeds itself in the center of the bud, tying the leaves together with
its web. It is an irregular worker, and leaves the bud in a ragged,
brown, dilapidated condition.
Its work is most destructive in the nursery, destroying terminal shoots,
which sadly interferes with the growth and symmetry of the young tree.
Sometimes it burrows from the bud into the pith of the twig for several
inches, killing the shoot to the tip. The worm finally settles upon a
leaf, cutting the leaf stalk partly off, so that the leaf withers; it
then rolls this soft, wilted leaf into a tube around its body, fastening
it with webs and lining it for a nest. From this tube nest it comes
forth only at night to feed, and when disturbed it hastens into it out
of sight. In feeding, it draws leaves towards its home by silken
threads, thus forming a bunch of partly eaten leaves, which turn brown,
making the nest conspicuous.
After attaining its growth it lies as a pupa in its silk-lined tube
about ten days, when it emerges an adult moth, and in three or four days
begins to lay its eggs. These moths appear from about June 1 and remain
to July 5 or July 10. They are night flyers, and do no damage in the
winged state. As the worms are leaf-eaters, spraying with London purple
or Paris green, as for canker-worms, must kill many. Whenever their
nests are seen they should, if possible, be gathered and burned, and in
a badly infested orchard it will pay to rake and burn all the leaves
under the trees.