The Bulletin. 21 



"There is much room for the development of the strawherry industry. 

 Our berries are often sent to market in bad order, soft, moldy, ^ or 

 'leaky.' This could be avoided if we growers would refrain from using 

 too much ammoniated fertilizers. For instance, we should never use 

 nitrate of soda later than the middle of September. This gives the 

 plants time to take it up before the cold weather sets in, otherwise the 

 plants do not get the benefit of it until the following spring, and the 

 consequence is that we have a soft berry and a poor shipper." 



STRAWBERRY INSECTS. 1 



By Franklin Sherman, Jr., Entomologist, State Department of Agriculture, Raleigh, N. C. 



The strawberry crop has very few serious insect enemies in North 

 Carolina, but we here mention those that have been complained of. 

 The only one of which we have ever had much complaint is the Straw- 

 berry Weevil. 



Strawberry Root- Louse. — This is a small dark plant-louse which in- 

 fests the roots, sucking the sap from them, sometimes killing the plants 

 in spots in the field. The remedy is (1) to avoid planting in ground 

 known to be already infested until it has been in some other crop for 

 a year or tAvo; (2) secure plants which are free from them, grown in 

 fields not infested; (3) if the plants are suspected, dip them for a few 

 minutes in strong decoction made by boiling tobacco stems or leaves in 



water. 



Strawberry Root-worms. — These are the larvse (worm stage) of small 

 dark-colored beetles. The beetles feed on leaves of strawberry and other 

 plants; the larva? feed on the roots or may bore through the crown. 

 Remedy is to spray with arsenate of lead, 3 or 4 pounds to barrel of 

 water, or Bordeaux mixture, applying well before the berries begin to 

 color or after picking is over. So far as known, these are not usually 

 a serious pest with us. 



Saw-flies, Leaf-rollers, Caterpillars. — These may one and all feed to 

 more or less extent on the foliage, but injuries by them have never been 

 reported as serious in this State. Remedy would be to spray as already 

 recommended for the Root-worms. 



Strawberry Weevil. — This is by all odds the most important insect 

 enemy of the strawberry in North Carolina, and therefore will be dis- 

 cussed in more detail. It has been the subject of some careful studies 

 bv us. 



iTbis article was prepared by Mr. Sherman at the request of the author of this Bulletin, because 

 manv growers will desire to have some knowledge of the insect enemies of this crop. Inquiries or com- 

 plaints about insects attacking strawberries in this State should be addressed to Division of Ento- 

 mology, State Department of Agriculture, Raleigh, N. C. 



