Insects, etc.. Injurious to Currants. 213 



References. 



(1) CoUinge, W. Report on Injurious Insects and Other Animals obseived in 



the Midland Counties during 1906, p. 30 (1907). 



(2) Theobald, F. V. Report on the Orchards and Fruit Plantations of Wor- 



cestershire, etc., p. 15 (1906). 



THE FRUIT AND CURRANT-SHOOT BORER. 



{Incurvaria capitdht. Fab.) 



This Tineid Moth goes through a very curious series of changes 

 during its growth and development and is of particular interest. It 

 is sometimes harmful to red currants and also attacks the black and 

 white varieties. 



The damage is caused by the larva tunnelling up the young 

 shoots, causing them first to flag and then die right back. 



The appearance of the withered tips is very marked and will at 

 once show the presence of this insect in our plantations. It has been 

 but seldom reported to me. In 1899 and again in 1902 some 

 inquiries were received from mid Kent and in 1904 one from 

 Worcestershire. It has also been observed at work near Esher in 

 Surrey, and near Cambridge and at Wye. Ormerod (1) records it 

 from Gloucestershire, in the Toddington Fruit Grounds at Winch- 

 combe. 



Warburton (5) records it from Worcestershire. 



LiFE-HiSTOKV, Habits, Etc. 



The moth is a pretty insect about h inch in spread of wings. The 

 fore wings are dark brown and have when fresh a satiny lustre, 

 showing in the sunlight a purplish tinge ; towards the base of each is 

 a yellow band running across the wings and nearer the tip are two 

 yellow spots ; the hind wings are uniformly grey with faint purplish 

 lustre. The head is deep yellow and shows up prominently with 

 the yellow markings on the wings. 



The moth delights in the sun and may be found settled on the 

 blossoms of plants, especially I have noticed on Umbellifera\ It is 

 fairly common over the south and middle of England, but does not 

 appear to be found in the north or in Scotland. It is also recorded 

 from north Ireland ; Stainton records it from Alkham near Dover, 

 Bristol, Cambridge, Kingsbury, Middlesex, Manchester, Pembury, 

 Scarborough, Tenterden. 



The time of appearance is about the middle to the end of May, 



