INSECTS INJURIOUS TO ST R.iW BERRIES. 



105 



Btrawberry Leaf-roller 



them both as food and raiment, Nearly all of the insects of this family are 

 small, and few of our frnit> trees, shrubs or vines escape their ravages. 



The strawberry Leaf-roller, according 

 to Prof. Eiley, is a greenish brown 

 larva {see a in fig.), less than one-half 

 inch long when fully grown, and as is 

 generally true of caterpillars, has six- 

 teen legs ; tapers slightly from before 

 -a, LarvaT c, iMoth. backwards, and by feeding on the pulp 

 of the leaves, causes them to turn sear and die. They pupate in the same leaf, 

 and by the first of July the reddish brown moth {see c in fig.) appears, which 

 expands about one-half an inch. A second brood matures in September. 



W. R. Strong, of Valparaiso, Indiana, lost in 18G7 by this insect, ten acres of 

 strawberries. Illinois has also suffered greatly from tliem, as has Canada. 



While so far as I can learn this insect is not yet in our own State, still it 

 may be; as the sun-burnt appearance of afi'ected leaves may lead to an errone- 

 ous view as to the origin of the evil. The following, received a few days since 

 from Dr. Barnes, of Owosso, may refer to this insect: "There is another 

 insect that has given me some trouble. Before I am aware of it there will be 

 patches in the field, the leaves of which seem to be frittered away. I presume 

 that the leaf-roller, as you call it, is the guilty party." 



It behoves us to procure our plants from localities surely free from this pest. 

 Prof. Riley thinks that plowing under plants that are attacked either in the 

 spring or fall, when the insects are in the larva, or pupa state, would be sure to 

 destroy them. It is a good practice, in summer, to pluck and burn the brown 

 leaves that appear on our trees or vines, as in so doing we will destroy many 

 leaf-rolling larvae. This means might alone suffice in case of the insect under 

 discussion if we had only to protect a small plat of berries. 



These leaf-rollers on accout of their secluded habits and great destructive- 

 ness, are greatly to be dreaded, as yet we are very ignorant of their habits and 

 transformations; and it is greatly to be hoped, that we of Michigan shall have 

 no occasion to enlighten the world especially as to the injurious species. 



THE STRAWBERRY SLUG. 

 Emphytus macukita, Norton — Sub-order Ilyimnopiera. Family Tenthredinidce. 



We are apt to think of Hymen- 

 opterous insects as exclusively our 

 friends. Does not the bee industri- 

 ously gather the tiny drops of nec- 

 tar from every part of Flora's vast 

 domain, canning them so wonder- 

 fully, that we may feast on ambrosia 

 distilled from myriad flowers ? Do 

 not the wasps prey upon flies and 

 bugs, thus freeing us from annoy- 

 ing pests ? And who shall say how 

 much we owe to the vast army of 

 parasitic insects, composing the 

 four Hymenoptero us families: 

 Chalcididse, Ichneumonidae, Chrys- 

 idida3, and Protoctrupid®? Yet 



strawberry Slug.— 1 and 2, Pupa ; 8 and 5, Imago ; 4 and 



6, Larva; 7, Cocoon . 



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