104 THfi CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Such a spot having been fixed on, the larva begins to contract the lengtb 

 of its body and to spin a cocoon over itself, which, when finished, is- 

 nearly oval, smooth, of a brownish color and papery texture, and within 

 this it changes to a small brown chrysalis, from which the fly escapes late 

 in June or early in July. Shortly after this eggs are again deposited, from 

 which another brood of worms are hatched ; these complete their growth 

 before summer closes, and in most instances change to chrysalids before 

 winter, and thus these tormentors lie dormant until spring comes round 

 again. 



There may possibly be more than two broods during the season ; it is 

 certain that there are not many weeks during the whole of summer when 

 you cannot find the larvae on the bushes in some stage of their growth. 

 It is well known that the flies composing the separate broods do not all) 

 appear at one time ; some are weeks later than others, and their progeny 

 are later in proportion ; but whether this tardiness in maturing on the 

 part of some specimens is sufficient to account for the almost continual 

 presence of the larvce from May to September, we are unable at present 

 to decide. 



The Saw-fly has natural enemies, but, unfortunately, they do not as 

 yet appear anywhere in sufiicient numbers to materially lessen its in- 

 crease. One small parasitic insect attacks the egg,and there are two other 

 Fijr. 19. species which prey upon the larva. Besides these we 



have another friend in a member of the Heteroptera 

 *\ 'W /*^ or true bug family, see fig. 19. This insect is about 



the size of a common Lady-bird, with the head, thorax 



W^^^i^E^S*V "^^^ ^^^^ black, and the abdomen red, with an 



elongated black spot in the centre, crossed by a 

 whitish line. On approaching one of the worms they 

 thrust into it their sharp proboscis and quietly suck 

 its juices until it shrivels up and dies. In the figure 

 this insect is magnified ; the outline below shows its 

 natural size. 



It is fortunate that we have a remedy which is sure and speedy, and 

 while it brings sudden death to the worm, does not injure either the 

 bushes or fruit. We refer to powdered Hellebore, which is best used by 

 mixing two tablespoonfuls of the powder in two or three gallons of water^ 

 and showering it on the bushes with a watering pot. 



