30 THE REPORT OF THE No. 19 



Red Currant Aphis {Myzus ribis) is one of the most common insect 

 pests of gardens. The cause of the reddish-purple swelling of the leaf is 

 not known by most people, but if they would only observe carefully and con- 

 tinuously the currant leaves, and watch the development of the swelling 

 as well as the multiplication of plant lice, they would have no hesitation 

 in concluding that the swelling is due to the punctures of the Aphids. 



Lettuce Aphis was quite destructive in some greenhouses in the latter 

 part of May. 



Radish Maggots were very numerous in most sections. On heavy clay 

 soil in the Berlin section they ruined the entire crop, but in lighter soil 

 only about two-thirds of the crop. 



The Strawberry Weevil. A correspondent from Oakville reported ^n 

 early June that the Strawberry Weevils were abundant in that locality 

 and had done considerable injury. The report said : "I notice that tKe 

 beetles commit their depredations largely in the second year patches, the 

 first year patches being comparatively free from their attacks. The damage 

 done in this neighborhood is serious in some cases — in one case at least one- 

 third of the blossoms have been nipped off. The 'Williams' variety which 

 is largely grown here is suffering most". Specimens were sent me for 

 identification, with a request as to best method of treatment. 



The Strawberry Weevil is a very small snout beetle not more than one- 

 tenth of an inch in length, with the snout about half as long as the body. 

 There is but one brood a year, and the life-history seems to be about as 

 follows : The adults winter over in protected places, and at the time of the 

 first blossoming of the strawberries, usually about the 1st of June, they 

 begin to appear in large numbers. The females puncture the buds of un- 

 opened blossoms and deposit an egg within; then to prevent the develop- 

 ment of the bud, puncture or cut the stalk of the flower. 



Larvse appear in a few days, and these feed on the pollen. In about 

 a month they reach full size, and in a cavity in the bud transform to pupse. 

 There the pupae remain for about a week before becoming adults. 



The work of the weevil is confined to pollen-bearing or staminate vari- 

 eties, and the damage in due to the destruction of the pollen used in ferti- 

 lizing the pistillate varieties. 



The following methods of controlling this insect have been advocated : 

 1. By covering the beds with muslin or other light cloth a week before the 

 first blossoms appear, and keeping them covered until the first berries are 

 ripe. 2. By cultivating pistillate varieties which bear no pollen. 3. By 

 planting an early staminatrd variety as a trap crop. 4. By clean culture. 

 It is probable that a good repellant would be an effective method of treat- 

 ment, but more experiments are necessary to verify this point. Spraying 

 with Paris Green is not effective as the beetles feed within the unopened bud. 



Insects of Garden Oenamentals. 



The Hollyhocl< Borer. In July many hollyhock stalks near the College 

 broke down near the base. Upon examination every broken stalk had its 

 pith tunnelled for about half way up by a large lepidopterous borer re- 

 sembling a cutworm. On the side of the stalks holes could be seen through 

 which the larva entered. At this time the borer was about an inch and a 

 half in length, was smooth and cream colored; light brown and cream 

 colored, stripes ran lengthwise of the body, with darker spots along spir- 

 acular area on each side. 



