Big^ End Mite ami Hcrccr Flics. 79 



iliseased leaves in July, not later, anil wash iLe trees frequently in 

 early spring' and autumn with liver of sul})hur wash — that is ]>anittin 

 emulsii»u and liver of sulphur. Dr. Nalepa informs me the miles 

 winter in the buds. 



The "Big Bud" Mite. 



{Erioplitjcs ribis, Is'alepa.) 



A correspondent from near Tewkesburj' wrote as follows : " A 

 dealer has offered me G,000 black cuiTants (Baldwin's), but they 

 contained a lot of swollen buds like the enclosed, I want to know 

 if they are infested with Gall Mites, if so whether it would be safe 

 to plant them." The following reply was sent : " The black currant 

 buds you send are badly infested with the Currant Bud Mite 

 {Eriophi/es {riiytoptus) rihia). This mite is perhaps more prevalent 

 in the Baldwin cun*ant than in any other variety, but the only kiml 

 I have never seen attacked is the old cottage-garden one, that is so 

 prevalent in Kent, a light cropper, however." 



"It is most un^^'ise to have any infested plants, however cheap. 

 It is really quite useless attempting l»lack cuirant gi-owing with tlie 

 ' big bud ' pest in the plantations, as at present there is no known 

 remedy for it. It is most essential to be successful to start on land 

 new to black cuiTants and with clean stock." 



Hover Flies (Syrjihidce : Aphis Feeders). 



A number of en<iuiries have been made this season (1902) con- 

 cerning the leech-like larvie of the Hover Flies {Syrphida). The 

 following note was sent to Mr. Bear, of Hailsham, in answer to an 

 enquii-y as to the nature of these larvie : — 



The three larvaj you send feedinj? on the Apple Aphis are those of one 

 of th<' Ilovcr Flies {SijrphuUr) Catalwmbo pi/raatri^ Lmu. They are most 

 bcntficiul, being ravenous Aphi.s feeders attiicking all kind.s of ** l)c>l{iLins." 



TIktc arc a good many s|K.cies, sufliciiiitly abundaiit to do a gr'-at dfal 

 in keeping Ajthis in check, but unfortonaU ly they come rather late Jind 

 much iiarm is often done by the Aphith-s Ix-fore they make their jtresence 

 felt. Sijrj'hus ribesii, Linn., and S. yrossu/nriaf, Meig., sceni to be the 

 most abundant after the one you mnd. 



These three species were sent from widely diflerent localities. 



