BORING IN THE CROWN 



233 



The Strawberry Crown-borer ( r^Zo(ierma /ragran'ce Riley) 



The inside of the crown of strawberrj^ plants is hollowed out by a 

 white, thick-bodied grub, one fourth of an inch long, with a brown head. 



The adult is a small, dark 

 beetle, one fifth of an inch long, 

 with three darker spots toward 

 the outer edge of each wing 

 cover. It emerges in the fall, 

 hibernates, and lays eggs in the 



Fig. 



Fig. 297. — Adult of the Strawberry 

 Crown-borer. Enlarged and nat- 

 ural size. Original. 



spring. Usually only older 

 plants are infested, because egg 

 laying is over by the time that 

 runners formed in midsummer 

 have made any growth. There 

 is one generation annually. 



The adults are unable to fl3^ Therefore, if old beds are attacked, 

 care should be taken to make ne\v plantings at some distance, and to 

 use only new runners, which will not usually be found infested. In 

 discarded beds the plants should be plowed out at once after the pick- 

 ing season, raked into piles, and burned. This should be done not 

 later than August, in order to kill the insect while still in the crowns. 

 Where beds are moved every two or three seasons, no trouble need be 

 feared from this insect. 



298.— Work of 

 Crown-borer. 



the Strawberry- 

 Original. 



