zzz THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



state before the end of the month. In this state they remain about three weeks, and 

 then the moth comes forth. The chrysalis is black, with orange circles round the 

 pointed end, and is enclosed in a cocoon attached to branches, twigs, palings and walls. 



V-Moth (Halia (Phalsena) Wavaria). This moth has the form of the magpie moth ; 

 1 inch in expanse of wings, grey, with a purplish gloss, and brownish hind margins, 

 the front margin having numerous short streaks and four spots of dark brown, and the 

 second spot joins with a dark spot in the centre of the wing, forming a V, with the tip 

 pointing from the body. It appears in July or August, the female depositing her oggs, 

 one or more, on the leaves of gooseberry and currant bushes, and the caterpillars, passing 

 the winter similarly to those of the magpie moth, are most conspicuous in May. They 

 are loopers, cylindrical, dull green or lead colour, head lead-coloured, with dark mark- 

 ings, body wavy (slightly dilated), lined lengthwise with smoke-colour, and with yellow 

 spots along each side, with three black warts in each spot, and a black bristle issuing 

 from each wart. When full-grown the larva becomes pupa suspended in a slight web 

 among the leaves on the twigs. 



The very best preventive of magpie and V-moth caterpillar attacks is thorough 

 cultivation, not pruning the bushes until the leaves are all down, then collecting and 

 burning, leaving not one behind. To facilitate clearing away the leaves in autumn the 

 ground beneath the bushes should be made firm, smooth, and even early in September, 

 and the remedies advised against the gooseberry and currant saw-fly caterpillar may be 

 practised in spring. 



Gooseberry and Currant Saw-fly (Nematus ribesi). This insect appears in spring. 

 Its body is yellowish brown ; antennae also brown and nine -jointed ; the crown of the 

 head, eyes, three large spots divided by a line on the back, and a large spot on the breast 

 are all black ; belly orange ; wings transparent and reflect the colours of the rainbow, with 

 the spots on the fore-wings brown ; legs yellow, with brown tips. The female deposits 

 her eggs on the under side of the leaves of gooseberries and currants, on or near the 

 midribs, and the caterpillars hatch out in a week to ten days, and at once commence 

 feeding, piercing the leaves through into numerous small holes. The caterpillars are 

 bluish-green ; the head, tail, feet, and spots on the segments are black, with one yellow 

 ring by the head and tail, and have twenty legs. The caterpillars feed in companies 

 with tails raised in the air, as shown in Fig. 69, which also portrays the insect. 



The caterpillars are most abundant and destructive during May and June, but 

 Buccessional broods are hatched from the beginning of May until October. When 



