316 



STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



The Currant Span-worm. {Eufitcliia 7ibearia.) 



Unlike the larvae of the imported currant-worm, those of the span-worm are 

 measuring-worms or loopers, sometimes called inch-worms. All are familiar 

 with caterpillars of this class. The currant span-Tvorm often comes in large 

 numbers, and devours the foliage very rapidly. The caterpillar, when full 

 grown, is marked with three longitudinal yellowish stripes and by several 



Fig. 36. — Currant Span worm, from Riley, Ninth Rep. State Entomologist of Mo. 



spots on each segment. The pupal stage is passed under the surface of the 

 soil, and the delicate, yellowish moth lays the eggs in summer for the brood of 

 larvas which will come out next spring about the time that the foliage becomes 

 well grown. This insect works also on gooseberry. There is but one brood each 

 year. 



REMEDIES. 



When the larvae are noticed early before the fruit is more than just set, 

 paris-green applied in the ordinary way, will kill them very nicely. After the 

 fruit gets started, use hellebore in place of paris-green, because it is much 

 safer. 



The Imported Currant-worm. {NeiJiatus ribesii.) 



The common currant-worm is the larva or false-caterpillar of a saw-fly. Saw- 

 flies belong to the same order as the wasps, but in place of stings, they are 

 provided with saw-like implements with which they are enabled to cut slits in 

 the foliage or bark of vegetation. They are mostly small, thick-waisted creatures 

 with four wings, the color being often black or yellowish. 



The saw-fly under consideration, lays its eggs in rows along the ribs of cur- 

 rant or gooseberry leaves where they absorb water and become swollen, after- 

 ward hatching into small, whitish false-caterpillars, which turn green after a 

 time. Later, many black dots appear on the body, and just before they are ready 

 to spin up in a cocoon, they change once more to green with yellowish extrem- 

 ities. The larvae of saw-flies may always be distinguished, from those of moths 

 and butterflies, by the number of feet, there being always six true, jointed legs 

 and twelve to sixteen false legs; while true caterpillars with very few excep- 

 tions have only ten false legs. 



When full grown the larva spins a cocoon, usually in rubbish near the base 

 of the plant, although they may go just beneath the surface of the soil. The 



