INJURIOUS INSECTS. 135 



California; ttie imported Currant-borer (^ge.ria tipidiformis)^ 

 and the Currant-worm (Nematus ventricosus), affecting both red 

 currants and gooseberries; the Asparagus Beetle {Crioceris 

 asparagi) ; the Gypsy Moth (Ocneria dispar)^ and the Leopard 

 Moth {Zeuzera pyrina), which has got a foothold in New Jerse}^, 

 and is destructive to elms by boring into the branches. 



Our orchid growers received the Cattleya Fly {Isosoma orchide- 

 arum) through importation, and within a few years cattle raisers 

 have become familiar with the Horn Fly {Hcematohia serrata), 

 which is spreading over the country. 



In these notes I intend to refer chiefly to a number of insects, 

 mostly very common, about which I am most often questioned by 

 residents of this vicinity. 



Those insects which, instead of feeding externally, pass the 

 most mischievous time of their lives in boring within the tissues of 

 plants, offer one of the most difficult classes to deal with and keep 

 in subjection, if once allowed to become abundant. In order to 

 combat them with best results the life history of each species 

 should be known. After they have entered and begun boring 

 in the wood or stem of the plant, it is rarely possible to get 

 at them with insecticides. Probing for the larva? in the stems, 

 or cutting out the affected parts, remain as cures. But, if pos- 

 sible, we should' anticipate the disease by destroying the adult 

 insects, before their eggs are laid, or otherwise prevent their 

 deposition of eggs. Besides the direct injury to the plant by 

 borers, the holes made by them are openings for the entrance of 

 destructive fungi and disease-laden moisture. 



One of the most notable and troublesome of these tree destroying 

 pests, is the Locust Borer {Cyllene Bobinice), which makes it a diffi- 

 cult matter to grow the valuable and beautiful locusts or Eobiuias 

 in some localities. The trunks and larger branches of trees are 

 sometimes so thoroughly honeycombed by these borers that they 

 are liable to break oft' in any strong wind. If we carefully exam- 

 ine the bark in the latter part of August and during September, 

 we are likely to find these handsome, brown and yellow banded, 

 wasp-like beetles laying oval, dull white eggs, in crevices in the 

 bark, and especially about old wounds. 



These eggs hatch in a week or two and the young larvae eat 

 their way into the bark and towards the interior. They are yet 



