254 FRUIT INSECTS 



Treatment. 



As the burrows are indicated by the accumulation of frass, 

 and as the larvse are always near the surface, it is an easy matter 

 to dig them out with a knife. Scraping away the rough bark 

 in the winter would probably destroy many larvae in their 

 cocoons. The rubbish should be collected and burned, for if 

 left on the ground many of the larvse would doubtless survive. 

 Trees kept in a strong, healthy state by proper care are in better 

 condition to sustain attack. 



References 



Forbes, 6th Ann. Rept. State Ent. 111., pp. 26-29. 1891. 

 Del. Ag. Exp. Sta. Bull. r>'S, pp. 9-13. 1901. 



The Plum Web-spinning Sawfly 

 Neurotoma inconspicua Norton 



The larvae of this sawfly have the peculiar habit of webbing 

 in the leaves of the plum and cherry, forming unsightly nests 

 somewhat like the cherry tortrix. It has been reported from 

 Manitoba, South Dakota and Massachusetts. The adult is 

 a four-winged fly about ^ inch in length with a black body and 

 rufous legs except the black coxae and tarsi ; the wings are 

 hyaline with a faint fuscous band behind the stigma. They 

 appear just as the leaves are expanding, and the female deposits 

 her smooth, lemon -yellow elongate eggs in two or three rows 

 along the midrib on the underside of the young leaves. The 

 eggs hatch in about eight days, and the young larvae begin 

 feeding on the leaves under cover of webs which they enlarge 

 to inclose fresh leaves as more food is needed. They become 

 full grown in about a month, by which time the webs frequently 

 cover the entire tree. The larva is then about f inch in length, 

 grayish above and yellow or pinkish below, with a yellow head 

 and black thoracic shield and anal segment. When full-grown 



