48 CURRANT. [1899 



magnifying powers may have been used for the more detailed descrip- 

 tion ; but the locality of the cocoon certainly is, and to the two, above 

 given, Dr. Hofmann adds a third. He mentions that the larva feeds 

 on Asperala galioides and Galium verum and other kinds of Galium * 

 and that transformation takes place in a slight web, between the 

 leaves or blossoms of the food-plants. Conjecturally, if we had more 

 observations we should find that locality of pupation varied with 

 special circumstances, or with the nature of the food-plant. 



Prevention and Eemedy. — The eggs are stated to be laid in 

 August, and to hatch in the following April ; but unless by the appli- 

 cation of kerosine emulsion, which will sometimes destroy vitality in 

 eggs, it scarcely appears possible to get rid of the pest in the egg 

 state. 



The only remedial measures which seem practicable are clearing 

 the web-cocoons containing the caterpillar or chrysalis. This might 

 be done by hand-picking from the Currant stems, or by clearing any 

 leaves or other parts of the attacked plants (Currant or otherwise), 

 which may have been spun up. If the cocoons are found on the 

 surface of the ground these might usually be very easily got rid of by 

 just skimming them o£f with a spade run flat half an inch or so 

 beneath them and destroying them. 



In the case of the American species, Cidaria diversilineata, Hiibn., 

 of which the caterpillars feed on Vine leaves, the infestation is double- 

 brooded. The second brood passes the winter in caterpillar state, 

 coming out in spring to feed, and very soon after going through the 

 changes to the moth condition, f The remedies advised for this attack 

 where the "larvfe are sufficiently numerous to prove troublesome" are 

 syringing with Paris-green in water, or with hellebore in water ; but 

 these remedies would need great care in application if admissible at 

 all on crops for domestic use so far advanced as Currant fruit during 

 the month of June. 



* The different species of Galium are for the most part known with us by the 

 name of Bedstraw; G. verum as the "Yellow Bedstraw." A popular name of 

 several species of Asperula is Woodruff, also with some prefix ; but A. galioides is 

 not given as an English plant in ' Sowerby's British Botany.' 



t See 'Insects Injurious to Fruits,' by Dr. W. Saunders, Director of the 

 Government Experimental Farms in Canada, p. 270. 



