338 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE RED CURRANT. 



similar in its habits, but it may be distinguished by its 

 smaller size and by the absence of feet. It is a small, white, 

 cylindrical, footless larva, with a brown head and black jaws, 

 which also feeds upon the pith of the stems, rendering them 

 hollow and often killing them. Usually several, and sometimes 

 as many as eight or ten, of these borers are found within the 

 same cane. The change to a pupa takes place within the 

 stalk, and in the latter part of May or early in June the per- 

 fect insect escapes. 



This is a small, narrow, cylindrical, brownish beetle. (See 

 Fig. 351, where it is represented magnified, the outline figure 

 at the side showing the natural size.) The 

 wing-cases are of a darker brown behind 

 the middle ; there is a whitish dot on the 

 anterior part of each elytron, and a large, 

 slightly oblique, and sometimes crescent- 

 shaped spot of the same color just behind 

 the middle ; the antennae are slender, and 

 nearly as long as the body. The beetle flies during the day, 

 but is much less active than No. 202, and hence more easily 

 captured. The cutting out and burning of the infested stalks 

 will be found of great advantage in this instance also. Thii- 

 borer is sometimes attacked by parasites. 



No. 204. The Currant Bark-louse. 



Lecanium ribis Fitch. 



Early in the spring there are sometimes seen on the 

 bark of currant-stems brownish-yellow, hemispherical scales, 

 about one-third of an inch in diameter, under which will be 

 found a quantity of minute eggs : as the season advances, 

 these hatch, when the young lice distribute themselves in all 

 directions over the twigs, puncturing them with their beaks, 

 and absorbing the sap. 



Another species, called the Circular Bark-louse, Aspidiotus 

 drcularis Fitch, is mentioned by Dr. Fitch as occurring on 



