THE BRAMBLE CROWN-BORER 259 



nor do I know the duration of this stage. The young larva is yel- 

 lowish white, usually with a faint reddish tinge. It attains a 

 length of from one -quarter to one -third of an inch during the 

 fall, and has at that time eaten about half through the cane, 

 sometimes entering the pith and boring up into the stem for a 

 short distance. It is likely that this is not an unusual habit, but 

 it is by no means general, and of the many specimens taken, only 

 two were found in the stem early in the season. In very few of 

 the infested canes did I find burrows, old or recent, in the 

 center." 



The injury is done by girdling the canes at the base of the 

 main root. In one field in New Jersey, nearly 50 per cent of the 

 canes were infested. As the season advances the larvae appear to 

 leave the old wood and attack the young shoots, causing them to 

 wilt and die. 



Smith observed larvae of two distinct sizes, and further obser- 

 vation of their transformations led him to the conclusion that the 

 insect remains two years in this state. 



Much of the work of this pest has been attributed to winter- 

 killing, from the fact that many of the canes attacked in the latter 

 part of the season remain alive till winter, and fail to leaf out the 

 following spring. 



Remedies. The habits of the species place it beyond the reach 

 of any insecticide, so far as known, and the only practical means 

 of combating it is by removing and burning the infested canes, 

 taking care that no larvsB escape. All dead canes which are 

 visible after growth starts in spring should be examined, and if 

 their death is due to this cause, the borer is pretty sure to be 

 found at the base. Their attacks on the young canes in summer 

 offer an especially favorable opportunity for their destruction, 

 since these tender shoots show the effects of their presence at 

 once, and there is more certainty of discovering the depredator. 

 Thorough work on this plan will almost wholly prevent the devel- 

 opment of the perfect insect, and its consequent reproduction and 

 spread. Especially is this true since the larva carries on its work 

 for two years before reaching that state. 



