492 THE CUECULIO. 



§ V. — DISEASES OF THE PLUM. 



I. Diseases affecting the Leaf. 1. Insects. 

 (1) The Plum Louse — Aphis pruni. This affects 

 the leaves of the plum, curling them as upon the 

 apple and cherry, and the same remedy applies. 

 See page 433. 



(2) The Vaptorer Moth — Orgyia lencostigma. 

 Page 437. 



(3) The Unicorn Moth — Notodonta unicornis. 

 Page 440. 



II. Diseases affecting the Fruit. 1. Insects. 

 (1) Curculio — Rhijnchaenus nenuphar. This is a 

 native of America, and has wonderfully increased 

 within the last fifty years. It is a small beetle, of 

 about one-quarter of an inch in length. Its color 

 is a grayish-brown, varied with spots of white, 

 yellow, and black. It has a curved beak or bill, 

 and appears in small numbers as early as the first 

 of April, but not in quantity until the middle of 

 May. 



Early in June, when the fruit is suflnlciently large, 

 it begins to deposit its eggs. It seems to prefer the 

 nectarine and plum, but also attacks the apple, 

 pear, peach, and cherry. The crescent-shaped mark 

 is made by its jaws at the end of its beak. This is 

 not so distinguishable in the apple, because it soon 

 heals over, and only a little speck remains. Plaving 



