58 AGRICULTURE OF MAINE. 



PEAR SLUG. 



The skeletonized appearance of pear, cherry, plum and other 

 fruit tree leaves is often due to this slug. It works on both the 

 upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. 



The adults appear in the spring and lay the eggs usually in 

 June. The eggs hatch soon after and commence feeding upon 

 the leaves. When present in large numbers, they soon cause 

 the leaves to become brown and the trees look as if fire had 

 swept through them. The adult fly pushes the ovipositor under 

 the surface of the leaves, making a shallow oval-shaped pocket 

 in which to place the egg. The tissues of the leaves are sr) 

 cut that there is no danger of their growing together and press- 

 ing the egg, or preventing the escape of the larva. 



The larvae are yellowish white at first, changing to a dirty 

 green as soon as the slime spreads over the bodies. The eggs 

 require two or three weeks to hatch and the larvae mature 

 about 25 days after hatching. After several molts they 

 cease feeding, drop to the ground and work their way into the 

 soil. After the last molt they do not assume the shmy protec- 

 tion and become yellowish orange in color. 



In controlling this pest, hellebore and black leaf 40 have 

 proven the most efficient. Each will do satisfactory^ work and 

 will not injure the foliage, but the former is much cheaper. 

 Arsenate of lead is cheaper than either but is a slower acting 

 poison and may injure the foliage to some extent on the cherry. 

 Arsenate of zinc is almost certain to burn the foliage. Solu- 

 tions: Hellebore, one pound to 50 gallons of water; black 

 leaf 40, one part to 100 parts of water. 



THE GOOSEBERRY FRUIT FLY. 



Premature ripening of currants and gooseberries is often- 

 times due to the attack of this insect. The first indication of 

 injury is a small spot on one side of the fruit where growth 

 has apparently ceased. Later the fruit becomes dull, matures 

 early and, upon examination, reveals a dark spot on the interior 

 which proves to be a small footless grub. The fruit drops to 

 the ground, causing a sihortage of sometimes three-quarters of 

 the crop. 



