422 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Control. The drooping of the tips in May is soon noticed 

 and during June they should be cut off about three inches lower 

 down and burned, or if the pruning is left until winter the infested 

 stubs should be cut off about eight inches below the point girdled, 

 as the larvae rarely tunnel deeper. 



The Four-lined Leaf -bug * 



This is one of our most common leaf-bugs, which has a long 

 list of food plants, but is particularly injurious to the young 

 foliage of currant and gooseberry. The adult bug is easily 

 recognized, as the upper surface is a 

 dark green with four stripes and the 

 tips of the wing-covers black, as shown 



FIG. 355. The four-lined leaf-bug (Pcecilocapsus lineatus Fab.): a, adult; 

 6, cross-section of stem showing eggs in position and a single egg greatly 

 enlarged. (After Slingerland.) 



in Fig. 355. The green changes to yellow after death and the body 

 is bright orange-yellow, and the legs green. The "presence of the 

 pest is indicated by the appearance of the peculiar brown depressed 

 spots on the tender terminal leaves" in early summer. " As the 

 attack continues, whole leaves turn brown, curl up, become brittle, 

 and are torn or broken by the wind. The young shoot is checked 

 and frequently droops and dies. The buds of dahlias and roses are 

 often blasted." Slingerland gives a list of some fifty-seven food- 

 plants, including all sorts of crops, ornamental plants and weeds. 



* PcecilQcapsus lineatus Fab. Family Capsidce. See Slingerland, Bul- 

 etin 58, Cornell Univ. Agr. Exp. Sta. 



