348 



FRUIT INSECTS 



Fig. 307. — A gooseberry leaf injured 

 by the four-lined leaf-bug. 



It has been nio.st troublesome in New England, New York and 

 Michigan. It has a wide range of food-plants, but has attracted 

 most attention as an enemy of the currant, gooseberry, mint, 



parsnip, Weigelia, dahlia and 

 rose. 



The insect usually makes 

 its first appearance about the 

 middle of May on the newest, 

 tenderest terminal leaves. The 

 insects are then so small and 

 active in hiding themselves 

 that they are not apt to at- 

 tract attention. Their work, 

 however, soon becomes ap- 

 parent. The insect inserts 

 its beak into the leaf and 

 sucks out the green pulp of 

 the interior within a small area bounded by the little veinlets. 

 As the insects increase in size they suck out the pulp from 

 larger areas. The injured portions of the leaf turn brown and 

 die and give the leaves a characteristic spotted appearance (Fig. 

 307). The spots often coalesce and the 

 whole leaf turns brown, curls up and dies. 

 The growth of the shoot is checked, and 

 the terminal portion dies. In cases of se- 

 vere infestation the whole field has the ap- 

 pearance of having been scorched by fire. 

 On currant and gooseberry the insect con- 

 fines its attacks to the leaves, but on dahlia 

 and rose it attacks the buds. 



The newly hatched nymph is about 2V 

 inch in length, of a bright vermillion red 

 color with large black spots on the thorax. In the course of its 

 development, which requires from 17 to 20 days, the nymph 



Fig. 308. — The four- 

 lined leaf -bug (X 2). 



