ATTACKING THE FRUIT. 359 



already stated, and remains as a small, brown chrysalis within 

 the cocoon until the following spring. There is only one 

 brood of these insects during the year. 



The infested fruit soon indicates the presence of the larva 

 by becoming discolored, and, if sufficiently grown, it ripens 

 prematurely, otherwise it becomes of a dull whitish color, 

 and soon withers. This pest also attacks the wild gooseberry, 

 as well as the currant, both the white and the red variety. In 

 this latter case, since the fruit is not large enough to contain 

 the body of the larva, it draws the clusters together, and, 

 fastening the berries to each other with silken threads, lives 

 within the enclosure. 



Remedies. — The most satisfactory method of destroying 

 this insect is by hand-picking, and its habits are such that 

 its presence is easily detected. Any berries found color- 

 ing prematurely should be carefully examined, and, as the 

 larvse slip out and fall to the ground very quickly, watch- 

 fulness is needed to prevent their escape in this manner. 

 Where neglected, they often increase to an alarming extent, 

 and in some instances half the crop or more has been 

 destroyed by them. It is recommended to let chickens 

 run among the bushes after the fruit has been gathered, 

 so that they may devour the chrysalids; any leaves or 

 rubbish under the bushes should also be gathered and burnt, 

 and a little lime or ashes scattered over the ground in their 

 place. Dusting the bushes freely with air-slaked lime early 

 in the spring, and renewing it if washed off by rain, will also 

 in great measure deter the moths from depositing their eggs on 

 the young fruit then forming. 



No. 220. — The Gooseberry Midge. 



Cecidomyia grossularice Fitch. 



This second enemy to the fruit is a very small, two-winged 

 fly, which punctures the young gooseberry and deposits its 

 tiny eggs therein. These eggs develop into minute, bright- 

 yellow larvae of an oblong-oval form, much resembling the 



