76 



The female (Fig. 48) is 

 larger than the male, and 

 varies much in colour, from 

 a deep purplish brown to an 

 ochreous red. The fore winars 

 are covered by similar wavy 

 lines ; the inner margin is of a 

 darker colour ; the hind wings 

 are marked very similarly to 

 those of the male. These 

 moths fly only at night. 



FiR. 48. 



Fig. 50. 



The American Currant Borer (Psenocerus supernotatus). 



The accompanying cut (Fig. 49) represents an enlarged view of a native currant 

 borer, Psenocerus supernotatus ; the small outline figure shews the 

 natural size. It is a beetle belonging to the family of longicorns, 

 Geramhycidce, which doubtless had its home originally among the wild 

 currant bushes of our woods, but a more extended and inviting field 

 having been opened for it by the planting of the cultivated varieties 

 in our gardens, it has taken kindly to them, and although not so 

 destructive as the imported currant borer, Egeria tipuliformis Fig. 49. 



(Fig. 50), has in many instances, proved quite troublesome. In nearly all 

 our gardens numbers of the currant stalks annually perish, and were it not 

 for the vigorous growth of new shoots from year to year, the bushes would 

 soon be destroyed. If one of these stalks is split asunder, the cause of its 

 death is manifest, for through its whole length it is found to be more or 

 less eaten away, the hollows being filled in places by a fine sawdust-like 

 powder. This is sometimes the work of the imported currant borer (Fig. 50), and some- 

 times the work of the native species (Fig. 49). 



Early in June the parent beetle of the native currant borer deposits her eggs upon 

 the currant stalks, where they soon hatch into tiny grubs, which burrow into the heart of 

 the stem, and feeding on its pith, reach full growth before the close of the season. They 

 are footless grubs, which measure, when full-grown about half an inch in length. The 

 head is scarcely half as broad as the body, is of a dark brown colour, with black jaws. 

 The body is whitish with some brown dots along each side, and is slightly clothed with very 

 fine short hairs. When full-grown, and about to change to a chrysalis, the larva gnaws a 

 channel through the woody fibre to the outer bark, so that when changed to abeetle it can 

 make its escape by merely rupturing the bark. The cavity thus made is filled with little 

 chips to prevent the bark from being prematurely broken, and below this stuffing the 

 insect constructs a bed of short, woody fibres, packing the passage below with a finer ma- 

 terial resembling sawdust. Within this enclosure, which is about half an inch in length, 

 the larva changes to a chrysalis, and reposes until the fully formed beetle is ready to 

 emerge ; then gradually drawing away the obstacles to its egress, it finds its way to the 

 end of the passage, and gnawing a small round hole through the bark, eifects its escape. 



The Beetle is black Avith the edges of the wing covers and the thorax pale chestnut 

 brown. On each wing cover there is a rather large white spot beyond the middle, and 

 two smaller anterior spots, which are sometimes ash-grey and sometimes yellowish. The 

 antennae, which are shorter than the body, are pale brown, thickly clothed with short 

 ash-grey hairs. The under side is black and sparsely covered with short grey hairs. 



Dr. Fitch describes two parasites which he found attacking this pest in the larval 

 state, one a small ichneumon fly, the other that of a small two-winged fly. Hence, secluded 

 as it seems to be within the centre of the currant stem, it is unable to escape the acute 

 instincts of its enemies, who searching it out, feed on its body and cause its death. 



