RED-NECKED CANE-BORER 



139 



white, grub-like larvse crawl down the stems and bore under the 

 bark, eating into the pith. They feed downward in the pith during 

 the fall, passing the winter in the roots. The next spring finds 

 them working upward in other canes. When full grown they eat 

 nearly through the stem walls a few inches above the ground level 

 and there change to the pupal stage. At this time they are pale 

 yellow with brown heads. 



Before the adult emerges, the chrysalis pushes itself part way 

 through the unbroken skin of the cane, and when the adult escapes 

 the chrysalis's skin remains in the opening. 



Injury. These injurious insects may entirely girdle a stem at 

 the ground. They are particularly destructive in that, in the 

 spring, they abandon the old wood and at- 

 tack the new. Plants attacked generally 

 make a poor growth and may die if the 

 roots have been badly affected. Infestation 

 may come from wild canes in the vicinity. 



Control. Infested canes should be 

 pulled up or cut off below the work of the 

 borer and destroyed by burning. Or the 

 borer should be cut out as soon as its work 

 is observed. The various pests attacking 

 canes may all be controlled, to a large ex- 

 tent, by a judicious pruning and cutting 

 out every spring. In the middle and south- 

 ern states, blackberry canes may be en- 

 tirely mowed down after the crop is har- borer - 

 vested. The canes are to be burned immediately. Young shoots 

 will be sent up and become mature before fall. 



The Raspberry Cane-borer (Oberea bimaculata Oliv.). The 

 tips of young shoots of raspberries and blackberries sometimes 

 wither and die, due to the attack of this pest, which tunnels through 

 the center of the canes. 



The adult is a slender, dark beetle with a yellow ring back of 

 the head, and with long antennae or feelers. The larva, when full 

 grown, is one inch long, dull yellow, with a small brown head. 

 Two years are required to complete the life cycle. 



Control. Withered tips should be cut off below the point of 

 girdling and burned as soon as cut. This pruning should be done 

 before the larvae go into the crown off the plant to hibernate. 



The Red-necked Cane-borer. Both blackberries and rasp- 



" male; 6 - female - 



