240 



Bush-Fruits 



thicker than the normal cane, and are caused by the work of a 

 small borer, which is very similar in appearance and which belongs 

 to the same family as the flatheaded apple-tree borer. It is de- 

 scribed as about one-third of an inch long, with black wing-covers 



having a dull bluish reflection. 

 The thorax or neck has a reddish 

 or coppery appearance and the 

 head is black with metallic re- 

 flections. They may be found 

 from late May until August, being 

 most abundant in June. The 

 egg is laid near the base of a leaf 

 on the young growth. The galls 

 are usually confined to the main 

 canes, and may be near the base, 

 or two or three feet above ground, 

 though sometimes even the more 

 vigorous laterals are attacked. 

 The injured canes may put forth 

 leaves and blossoms, but the fruit 

 seldom ripens, and the cane dies 



*||||||riL before the end of the season. 

 jkjjj The larva? burrow in a spiral 



J direction, confining themselves, 



ft I * n *^ e ear ly sta g es f their exist- 



VW] ence, wholly to the sap wood, 

 RlSl and by this means girdle and kill 



the cane. According to one ob- 

 server, this habit of girdling the 

 cane in order to kill it the first 

 season seems to contribute to the 

 safety of the larvae, which other- 

 wise freeze and perish, perhaps owing to the greater quantity of sap 

 which surrounds them in living canes. They are said to be more fre- 

 quently destroyed in this manner in blackberries than in raspberries. 

 Like the crown-borer, it often escapes detection by reason of the be- 

 lief that the injury is. due to winter-killing. 



