

STRAWBERRY WEEVIL 137 



Injury. They feed on the under side of leaves, skeletonizing 

 small areas. They roll the leaves and fasten them with fine webs. 



Broods. When full grown, these caterpillars spin thin cocoons 

 and remain in the pupal stage about ten days. The first brood of 

 larvae appears in the spring, and a second brood early in the fall. 

 Their method of hibernation is somewhat in doubt. 



Control. A patch known to be infested should be sprayed with 

 arsenate of lead just before the blossoms open in the spring. Spray 

 thoroughly after the fruit has been picked. Or the strawberry 

 tops should be mowed soon after the fruit is picked, and when 

 dry burn them on the field. See also method of control given under 

 the strawberry-leaf roller. 



The Strawberry Slug. The adult is a four-winged fly (Empria 

 maculata Norton) about one-fourth of an inch long, with a row 

 of small white spots along each side of the abdomen. The larvae 

 resemble small green worms. They feed upon the leaves for 

 five or six weeks and then enter the ground to pass the winter in 

 the pupal stage. 



Control. If there is fruit on the plants, spray with white helle- 

 bore ; use two ounces to three gallons of water. Dusting with Paris 

 green and air-slaked lime is effective and may be used when there 

 is no fruit present. After the last picking the tops should be mowed 

 and the field burned over. 



Attacking the Fruit. 



The Strawberry Weevil. This is a small, black or brown 

 snout beetle (Anthonomus signatus Say) about one-tenth of an 

 inch long. 



Life History. After depositing its eggs in fruit buds, it gnaws 

 the stem just below the bud, causing it to wilt. The young grubs 

 feed on the wilted bud for a few weeks and then change to pupae. 

 The adults later emerge from the dried buds and go to other 

 flowers for feeding purposes. They disappear' about the middle of 

 summer, at which time they probably go into permanent quarters 

 for the following winter. There is only one brood. 



Since young and old feed upon pollen, pistillate varieties of 

 strawberries that is, strawberries lacking stamens are exempt 

 from attack. Late in the season the adult beetles feed upon the 

 leaves. 



Control. Clean culture is very essential in controlling this 

 insect, since it passes the winter under rubbish in the field. Old 



