INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE STRAWBERRY 397 



country, but rarely is it troublesome for more than a year or 

 two in succession. It is always inclined to be local and its 

 ravages do not often extend over wide areas." 



Life History. The moths appear in the strawberry fields 

 during early May in New Jersey and commence to lay eggs, the 

 moths being found in the fields for about a month. The eggs are 

 laid on the under surface of the half-grown leaves. They are 

 broadly oval or round, much flattened, of a pale green color and 

 about one-fiftieth inch in diameter. They are laid in the fine 

 netting of the leaf, in which they are seen with great difficulty. 

 The larvae hatch in from five to seven days. The young cater- 

 pillar feeds on the upper surface of the leaf for a day or two, 



FIG. 332. The strawberry leaf-roller moth (Ancylis comptana Frohl.) 

 enlarged. (After J. B. Smith.) 



eating into and along the midrib to weaken it. The young larva 

 is at first a light green color with a large head and long hair, 

 which becomes less noticeable as it grows. 



It soon commences to draw the edges of the leaf together, 

 folding the upper surface on the midrib, holding it together by 

 numerous strands of fine silk. The insect then spins a partial 

 tube or lining inside, in which it remains until the moth develops. 

 Unless disturbed the larva does not leave this folded leaf, and all 

 the feeding is done out of the reach of sprays. The larva becomes 

 full grown in about four weeks, when it is about half an inch long 

 and of a dark-green color, until just before pupation, when it 

 becomes more yellowish. The head and thoracic shield are 

 shining brown, and the small body tubercles are slightly lighter. 

 The larvae are slender and very active, wriggling violently when 

 disturbed or taken from their webs. 



" Pupation occurs in the tube made by the larva. The pupa 

 itself is brownish-yellow, without obvious processes or protuber- 



