47 



EUROPEAN CURRANT BORER. 



JEgeria Tipuliforme. Order, Lepido'ptera; Family, jEgeridse. 



Expansion of wings, eight to ten lines; color, bluish black; palpi, yellow; 

 antennffi, black; thorax, with a yellow line on each side; the breast with a 

 yellow lateral spot; the abdomen of the females with three and the males 

 with four very slender transverse bands. The tibia are black, with a ring, 

 and the tip yellow. The fore wings have the margins and transverse bar 

 black; the tip dirty golden yellow, with black veins. The larva is of a 

 whitish color, with the head and feet brown, and a dark dorsal line. 



The following observations on this insect were made and recorded by 

 Professor C. H. Dwinelle: 



The female of the currant borer lays her eggs singly on the wood of a year old or over, 

 and usually by the side of a bud or branch. When hatched the young larva makes its 

 way into the center of the stem, and taking a downward course eats out the pith for a 

 distance of several inches. The borer is of a general white color, with a brown head. 

 There are a few short hairs scattered over the body. Besides six true legs, there are ten 

 fleshy prop legs farther baclj. When full grown the borer is nearly one half inch in length, 

 and slender in proportion. In spring the borers, for the most part, assume the form of 

 chrysalis; but, with other borers of this class, there is a great deal of irregularity as to 

 the time of making this change. At times the insect can be found in all three forms — 

 larva, chrj'salis, and mature moth. At the time for the moth to emerge the chrysalis as- 

 sumes a dark-blue tint. It works its way to the opening of the burrow by a sciuirming 

 motion, aided bj' sharp-pointed projections on the abdominal rings. 



Figure No. 34. 



This insect is common throughout all the currant districts of the State, 

 and is one of the reasons of the short life of a currant plantation. To 

 exterminate the pest is out of the question, but as remedial measures are 

 recommended: 



1. Pruning all of the wood above two years, and burning of the same. 



2. Spraying of the vines with whale oil and sulphur, after the crop has 

 been gathered. 



