10 



The Currant Moth. (Incurvaria capitella). 



(PLATE I. Fig. 1.) 



This is a comparatively new pest in red currant plantations in 

 this country, and it appears that it is not particularly trouble- 

 some in other countries, though it is mentioned by Kaltenberg as 

 one of the insects attacking currant bushes. 



The caterpillars attack the buds in the early spring, living 

 upon them and preventing them from developing leaves and 

 blossoms. Later on, the second generation of caterpillars 

 feed upon the inside of the ripening currants and do some 

 injury in this way. 



About the tenth of April specimens of infested currant buds 

 were first sent from fruit plantations in Gloucestershire, Kent, and 

 Worcestershire. They were fastened together by a kind of web. 

 The little caterpillars were found within the buds, feeding upon 

 their contents. Afterwards several complaints were made from 

 various places of similar attacks. 



LIFE HISTORY. 



Some of the caterpillars in currant buds sent during April 

 were placed in breeding cages. The first moth appeared on the 

 15th of May. Observation showed that the pupal state continued 

 from 9 to 11 days. The term of caterpillar existence could not 

 be accurately noted as the buds naturally withered and the food 

 supply was cut off. 



The moth (Fig. 1 a and b) has awing expanse of from 7| to 8 

 lines, or close upon three-fourths of an inch. Its body is three lines 

 in length, or the fourth of an inch. The fore wings are brown with 

 a slight purple tinge. Mr. Stainton says : " A pale yellow fascia- 

 form spot lies on the inner margin before the middle, and beyond 

 the middle are two large pale yellow opposite spots." The head 

 is dark yellow. The antennae are dark and the legs yellowish. 



Its mode of oviposition is remarkable. This was first noticed 

 by Dr. Chapman, and was confirmed afterwards by my own 

 observations. The moth selects a currant, and with the help of a 

 long ovipositor places eggs in it close to the seeds within their 

 pulpy surroundings. I did not see more than two eggs placed in 

 the same currant. The eggs are ovoid and almost colourlesss, with 

 a small knot at one end. The moth is provided with a very 

 long apparatus for this process, almost half as long as its body. 

 Dr. Chapman terms it a double " instrument, dorsal and ventral, 

 eachwith two long rods for working it." The caterpilar ( Fig. I.d.) 

 is hatched in five or six days and feeds for a while upon the 

 pulp of the fruit, and leaves by a small opening which it makes 

 in the currant, and gets under the bark or, more properly, 



