Insects Afecting the. Strawberry. hi 



change to chrysalis, and from which the moths are produced early in the 

 autumn to continue the race. In this instance these catei'pillars took a de- 

 cided Uking for the strawberry vines, and in spite of the most vigilant search 

 for them, day after day and night after night, they defoliated a large patch 

 of the vines to such an extent that they were utterly ruined. Neai'ly all 

 through the month of June they literally swarmed, and scarcely a night 

 passed without considerable damage being done b^' them." 



Concerning remedies for its attack he adds: — 



"The battle must be fought with this insect while in the larva or cater- 

 pillar state, and then the surest way of disposing of them is to catch and kill 

 them. By searching around the vines just under the surface of the ground 

 during the day, many may be turned up and destroyed, and by inspecting 

 again at night when they are active and busy, their ranks may be still fur- 

 ther thinned, and by continuing this treatment, day after day, they may no 

 doubt be kept under. Probably dusting the vines with hellebore would 

 poison them as it does other leaf-feeding insects ; this measure is at least 

 worthy of a trial." 



It is possible that these cutworms might be enticed and poisoned in the 

 field with cabbage leaves or other foliage laid on the ground and poisoned 

 with Paris green or other arsenical substances. 



The Stalk Borer. Gortyna nitela, Guenee. 

 Order Lepidoptera, Family Noctuida3. 



Fig. 3. Stai.k Borer {Gorlyiia iiltda, Guenee): Moth and larva. 



Concerning the work in the strawberry lield of this well-known and wide- 

 spread insect, I can add nothing to the mere mention made by Prof. Riley 

 in his third rejjort as State Entomologist of Missouri, that it sometimes bores 

 into ripe strawberries. It is very unlikely that it could do any noticeable 

 damage in this way unless its breeding had been encouraged by permitting 

 the unrestrained growth of thick-stemmed weeds in or near the strawberry 

 tield. 



The Strawberry Leaf-roller. Andiyloperafragariee, Riley. 



Order Lepidojjtera, Family Tortricidte. 

 Under this name we have to deal with one of the most destructive enemies 

 of the plant, which at one time threatened to put an end to the cultiva- 



