EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



323 



CURRANT AND GOOSEBERRY INSECTS. 



THE CURRANT SAW-FLY (^^ematus ribesii Scop.). 



This imported currant worm has been a pest among us so long and is so 

 well known that it needs no introduction. The imago of this insect is not 

 so well known and a cut of the male and female is given. Two broods of 

 this saw-fly appear each year, but the most destructive one comes early, 

 when the flies will be very noticeable around the bushes in the warmer 

 part of the day. When the leaves are unfolding the little white eggs are 



Fig. SB.-Carrant Singe and the Saw-Flies to which they change. 



laid along the midrib of the leaves, and from these eggs the young slugs 

 will soon appear. While they are still very young is the time to treat 

 them with a spray of Paris green. If thoroughly treated at this time and 

 heavy rains do not appear too soon, the currant slug will not injure the 

 bushes again through the season. If another spraying is needed when 

 the fruit is nearly ripe, hellebore can then be used. The currant worms 

 hatch first, and are thickest, low down in the center of the bush, and 

 care should be taken to spray thoroughly in that part. 



CURRANT BORERS. 



There are at least three species of borer that work in the canes of the 

 currant and if not interfered with will ultimately kill the bushes. In early 

 summer the eggs are laid singly near buds, and the young borer 



works through the bud 

 into the pith of the cane 

 where it feeds until late 

 fall or early spring when 

 it changes to a pupa and 

 later appears as the 

 imago. 



Fig. 37. — Imported Carrant Borer, 

 Sesia tipuliformis Linn., in lar- 

 Ta, papa, and imago stages. , 



Fig. 38.— AmericanlCarrant Bor- 

 er, Psenocerus supernotatus 

 Say. 



