136 INSECT PESTS OF BERRIES AND GRAPES 



experiment station workers in the various states can generally 

 advise their constituents of the probable occurrence in numbers 

 of this pest and make suggestions regarding strawberry planting. 



Attacking the Leaves of Strawberry Plants. 



The Strawberry Leaf-roller. This moth (Ancylis comptana 

 Froehl.) appears in the strawberry fields during May, and, shortly 

 after, eggs are laid on the under side of leaves. The small brownish 

 or greenish larvae hatch in five to seven days and at once begin 

 feeding on the upper surface of the leaves (Fig. 156). At first 

 they are about one-eighth of an inch long and feed unprotected ; 

 but they soon begin to draw the sides of the leaves together until 

 they are concealed in a complete fold. Feeding continues within 

 the shelter, and pupation occurs about four weeks later, within 

 the leaf. The moth emerges nine or ten days later. There are 

 three broods each season. 



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FIG. 156. The strawberry leaf-roller: a, larva, natural size; b, anterior segments of larva, 

 enlarged; c, adult, hair lines indicating length of insect and spread of wings. 



Control. Old leaves should be burned on the patch in the late 

 fall. When a strawberry patch is no longer useful, it should be 

 completely plowed under in autumn or early spring. The patches, 

 when bearing, call for a properly timed spraying with four pounds 

 of arsenate of lead to one hundred gallons of water. This spraying 

 should be made about a week after the moths are first noticed. 

 By that time the eggs first laid will be hatching, but no leaves will 

 yet be folded. 



The spraying should completely cover the upper surfaces of 

 the leaves, but should never be used after the berries begin to 

 color. One is further advised to avoid the use of plants from 

 infested districts. 



The Obsolete-banded Leaf-roller. The adult of this insect 

 (Ar chips obsoletana Walk.) is a small, brown moth appearing in 

 spring, and depositing eggs which overlap in clusters. The larvae, 

 hatching in about ten days, are light yellow in color, with brownish 

 heads. 



