313 MISSOURI STATE HORTICULTEAL, SOCIETY. 



securely together. In this p iich it lives, feeding on the green tissue 

 of the upper surface of the leaf. When full grown it changes to a 

 small, naked, brown chrysalis and in the case of the tirst l)rood, the 

 moth emerges in from ten days to two weeks. The second brood of 

 worms appears in August and passes the winter in the pupa state. 



Where this insect is so numerous as to be seriously destructive, 

 applications of Paris green or tobacco tea have been found effectual,. 

 and in some fields the heroic measure of burning, by the aid of a light 

 covering of straw, has been tried with entire success in exterminating- 

 the leaf rollers, while the strawberry plants were not injured at the 

 roots and immediately put forth a strong growth of new leaves. 



The Strawberry Slug or False caterpillar [Umphytus maculatus. 

 Norton), was reported to me from some sections of the State, but I 

 could not learn that its injuries were very general or very great. As 

 it is at times, however, very destructive it is well for the fruit-grower 

 to be able to recognize it and to be informed as to the best means of 

 combatting it. 



The perfect insect is a small, black, four-winged liy, belonging to 

 the group known as saw-flies, from the peculiar saw-like construction 

 and action of the blades of the ovipositor. It may be seen about the 

 first of May flitting sluggishly about or resting ui)on the strawberry 

 plants and depositing its eggs in little slits in the stems. From these 

 eggs the tiny worms soon hatch and begin feeding on the leaves, per- 

 forating- them with round holes. The full-grown worm is rather more 

 than helf an inch in length, of a dull translucent yellow color, shading- 

 to bluish green on the back. Head round, dnll yellow, spotted with 

 brown. Thoracic legs long, prolegs sixteen in number but slightly de- 

 veloped. When not feeding it rests on the leaf in a coiled position. 

 Transformation is effected in a slight earthen cell just beneath the sur- 

 face of the ground and the larv* remains in a dormant condition until 

 the following spring. The -greatest difficulty in contending with this 

 pest lies in the fact that it is single brooded and commits its most ser- 

 ious depredations on the plants just as the fruit is ripening, and unless 

 the crop be entirely relinquished, no poisonous applications can be 

 made to the vines. Pyrethrum in powder or infusion can be used, but 

 is scarcely to be depended upon. 



Where the insect is present in great numbers it is advisable to 

 plow up and thoroughly work the soil of the strawberry beds and re- 

 plant in as distant a location as possible. The plowing and harrowing- 

 will disturb and break open the cells in which the larvse rei)08e, or 

 bury them deeply in the ground, and in either case they will perish. 



