ENTOMOLOGY 91 



inches, and sooner or later usually cause the twig to split open, 

 weakening the twig if not killing it outright. The cricket that 

 causes all this trouble is a delicate little creature, light colored, 

 sometimes with dark markings, and provided with good sized wings. 

 It is perfectly harmless except for the habit of placing its eggs in 

 twigs in the autumn. In fact it is said to feed largely on plant- 

 lice and therefore to be our friend. The only pratical method of 

 combating these insects is by cutting out the affected canes and 

 twigs and destroying them by fire. If not at all numerous, they 

 may safely be ignored. (Bui. 24 Mich. Agr. Exp. <Sta.^ 



The Currant Span-worm. Unlike the larvae of the imported 

 currant worm, those of the span worm are measuring-worms or 

 loopers, sometimes called inch-worms. All are familiar with cater- 

 pillars of this class. The currant span-worm often comes in large 

 numbers, and devours the foliage very rapidly. The caterpillar, 

 when full grown, is marked with three longitudinal yellowish 

 stripes and by several spots on each segment. The pupal stage is 

 passed under the surface of the soil, and the delicate, yellowish 

 moth lays the eggs in summer for the brood of larvae which will 

 come out next spring about the time that the foliage becomes well 

 grown. This insect works also on gooseberry. There is but one 

 brood each year. 



When the larvae are noticed early before the fruit is more than 

 just set, paris-green applied in the ordinary way, will kill them 

 very nicely. After the fruit gets started, use hellebore in place of 

 paris-green, because it is much safer. 



The Imported Currant-worm. The common currant-worm is 

 the larva or false-caterpillar of a saw-fly. Saw-flies belong to the 

 same order as the wasps, but in place of stings, they are provided 

 with saw-like implements with which they are enabled to cut slits 

 in the foliage or bark of vegetation. They are mostly small, thick- 

 waisted creatures with four wings, the color being often black or 

 yellowish. 



The saw-fly under consideration, lays its eggs in rows along 

 the ribs of currant or gooseberry leaves where they absorb water 

 and become swollen, afterwards hatching into small, whitish false- 

 caterpillars, which turn green after a time. Later, many black 

 dots appear on the body, and just before they are ready to spin 

 up in a cocoon, they change once more to green with yellowish ex- 

 tremities. The larvae of saw-flies may always be distinguished, 

 from those of moths and butterflies, by the number of feet, there 

 being always six true, jointed legs and twelve to sixteen false legs; 

 while true caterpillars with very few exceptions have only ten 

 false legs. 



When full grown the larva spins a cocoon, usually in rubbish 

 near the base of the plant, although they may go beneath the sur- 

 face of the soil. The cocoon is oval in form and thin, being papery 

 in texture. There are two broods a year but they are not well de- 

 fined. The adults come out at various periods, necessitating a repe- 

 tition of the measures required to kill the larvcc. The time honored 



