143 



observed. A general observance of tbis practice woiiUl greatly lessen tbe 

 numbers of tbe mature larvse. and bas tbe merit of costing notbing but a little 

 time and care. 



Currant JIaggot ilCiioclira Camulcnsis, Loew.) 



Is a very serious pest of botli red and blaclv currants. 



Tbe parent fly varies in colour from pale yellow to pale orange, witb 

 abdominal markings, greenisb iridescent eyes, and dark bands across tbe 

 wings : it is two-winged and appears during tbe latter part of May or early 

 in June, and is active during tbree or four weeks. 



Eggs are deposited in tbe fruit during tbis period by means of tbe insect's 

 ovipositor, and eacb female is capable of laying at least 200 eggs, Tbe young 

 larvpe batcb out very quickly, and feed upon tbe seeds of tbe fruit. Infested 

 fruit at first bas a clouded appearance, but soon turns rcddisli, prematurely 

 on one side, wbere tbe pest is located, and later, blackisb. Most of tbe infested 

 fruit falls to tbe ground, and sometimes tbe ground is literally covered witb 

 infested fruit, Wbeu tbe larv» are about to transform tbey crawl out of the 

 currants and enter tbe ground for a sbort distance, or tbey may transform 

 on tbe surface, under rubbish. In pupal f(irm tbe in.sect is of a pale yellowisb- 

 brown colour. In tbis condition tbe insect spends several montbs of tbe year, 

 gradually undergoing cbanges into tbe fl.v, wbicb emerges in tbe spring. 



As a preventive measure, tbe busbes and ground adjacent sbould be 

 sprinkled with a mixture of air-slaked lime and carbolic acid, just at or pre- 

 vious to tbe time when tbe parent fly is active, probabl.v earl.y in May. One 

 pint of crude carbolic acid to one bushel of lime, well mixed together, is 

 strong enough for tbe purpose. Tbis method is useless after tbe eggs have 

 been deposited, so careful attention is necessary. 



Gathering and destroying the fallen fruit during ,Tunc would reduce tbe 

 numbers of tbe iiest considerably, and as the pupal form is passed at or near 

 the surface of tbe ground, tliese can be destroyed by removing and burying the 

 soil to a depth of an inch, or by carefully digging and turning down the top- 

 soil so that tbe young flies are unable to emerge in tbe siiritig. Much good is 

 done by chickens in picking up the pests, and. if convenient, they should be 

 given the run of the patch for that purpose. 



Injury to currants, both black and red, by tbe larv.i; of the currant fly 

 are somewhat frequent in tbe West, and, unfortunately, up to the present 

 time no very satisfactory remedy has been devised, Tbe only treatment which 

 bas given any results is tlie labourious one of removing about three inches of 

 tbe soil from beneath busbes which have been infested, replacing tbis with 

 fresh soil, and then treating the infested soil containing tbe puparla in such 

 a way that when tbe flies mature the.v cannot emerge, — Flcteher, Report 1905. 

 The Plum Curculio (Conotraehelus nenuphar. Herbst), 



So far as known, tbis pest of plum-growers in Eastern States and Prov- 

 inces does not occur iu British Columbia, but it is advisable that our fruit- 

 growers .Should know tbe appeai'ance of the insect. It belongs to tbe family 

 of snout beetles, so-called from the shape of the head, which is elongated into 



