The Four-lined Leaf-bug. 



Pcecilocapsus lineatus. 

 Ordke Hemipthra; family Capsid^. 



During the past three years this insect has been very destructive to 

 the foliage of currant and gooseberry bushes in several localities in our 

 State and in other States. In some instances it has rivaled the well- 

 known Imported Currant Worm [JVeniatus ventricosus) in destructive- 

 ness, and it has proven a much harder pest to control. 



In 1892 it was first noticed in alarming numbers on the currant and 

 gooseberry bushes in the horticultural garden at this Station. By the 



Fig. 1 — Currant leaves killed by the Insect. 



middle of June nearly one-half of the leaves on the new growth turned 

 brown, curled up and died (Fig. 1). The red, the white, the black and 

 the Crandall flowering currants, and the gooseberries of all varieties 

 were attacked. The bushes looked as though a fire had swept over 

 them, leaving the prominent top-most leaves brown and dead. The 

 death of these leaves so early in the season greatly checked, and in 

 many cases entirely stopped, the new growth that the bushes would 

 have otherwise made. As the insect usually confines its attacks to the 

 leaves of the new growth, the fruiting portions of the bushes are 



