48 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



Some Bush-Fruit Insects. 



By bush-fruits 1 mean red raspberries, black raspberries, currants, and gooseberries. 



Perhaps more inquiries were made regarding injuries done to bush-fruits than to any other 

 horticultural crop. Fortunately under careful management and treatment most of the insects 

 can be kept under control. 



The Snowy-Tree Cricket (CEcanthus niveus). Figs. 24 and 25. Although the work of this 

 insect is readily recognized, yet too many of our gardeners are unacquainted with it. Thu 

 female in autumn deposits her elongated cylindrical eggs in punctures in rows (Fig. 26), which 

 are nearly vertical on the erect canes. The result is a long, ragyied wound, which interferes 

 materially with the growth of the cane. The remedy is to cut out and burn the wounded por- 

 tions before the eggs hatch in the spring. 



Tlie Baspbernj Cane Maggot. — In June frequent complaints were made regarding a wilting 

 of the tips of raspberry canes. The pith of the canes was burrowed from the tip downwards 

 for a short distance, then the inner bark was girdled, producing a wilting of the tip. The por- 

 tion of the stem burrowed is of. smaller diameter than normal, and is of a dark blue color. The 

 affected canes usually die, for the maggot continues t > tunnel its way downward to the base. 



The cause of the mischief is a two-winged fly belonging to the genus Phorbia. From obser- 

 vations made ia 1891byDr. Fletcher, and in 1896 by Prof. Slingerland, it would appear that 

 the girdling commences early in May, and the maggot reaches the base in June. In the case of 

 the specimens sent from Hespeler on June 11th, the maggot had not then reached more than 

 half way to the base. 



The eggs are deposited in early spring at the base of the tip leaves. The insect winters 

 over in the pupa stage at the base of the plant. 



The remedy in this case also is to remove the wilting tips as soon as noticed, and burn them. 



The Pale Brotvii Byturus. — During June the flowers and flo^erbuds of raspberries suflfered 

 severely from the gnawing attacks of small, hairy, yellowish-brown beetles. The injured buds 

 scarcely ever develop fruit for the reason that the stamens and pistils are destroyed. 



Later in the season when the eggs have hatched, the grubs damage the nearly full-grown 

 berries. When full-grown, the grub becomes a pupa in the earth, where it remains all winter. 



The remedy for the Byturus is to spray with paris green and lime solution. 



The Ratipherig Cane Borer.— On July 1st, Mr. W. N. Hutt, B. S. A., of Southend, sent me •. 

 specimens of red-raspberry canes which were punctured by this cane-borer. The tips of the ■ 

 young shoots were wilted, and drooping. The rows of punctures around the cane, and the hole 

 between the rows in which the egg is laid were quite evident, as well as characteristic. The 

 grub on hatching irom the egg bores downward in the pith, and reaches the root by autumn. 

 There it transforms into a pupa and rests all winter. 



The Rose-Chafer. 

 ( Macrodactyliis ftnbsphiosvs). 



Usually this beetle confines i^s attacks to roses and grape, and often does much injury to ' 

 the blossoms. Last June, however, it began eating the half grown peaches in two large orchards 

 neir Niagara-on-l he-Lake, and considerable alarm was created lest it should spread to neighbour- 

 incf orchards. The alarm was occasioned by the presence of immense numbers of the Chafers, 

 and by the knowledge that arsenical poisons were of little use in such an emergency. As many 

 as eight or ten chafers were found feeding on a single peach, and but few peaches were leftll 

 untouched. ' 



It is probable that the most available remedy at the tinu is to jar the Chafers from the trees 

 in early morning into receptacles, or on sheets where they may be killed. The operation should 

 be .repeated on several successive mornings until the danger is over. 



