THE CURRANT FLY 421 



inch in length. The eggs, which are deposited beneath the skin 

 of the young fruit, hatch and develop into small, bright yellow, 

 oval maggots, resembling those of the wheat midge. These 

 change to pupse within the fruit, and emerge as perfect flies in 

 midsummer. Further than this the life history seems to be un- 

 known. Their presence causes the fruit to turn prematurely red 

 and become soft and putrid within. 



Remedies. The only remedy thus far known to be effective is to 

 pick and destroy all fruit which turns prematurely. 



THE CURRANT FLY 

 Epochra Canadensis (Loew.). Order Diptera. Family Muscidee. 



Saunders, Ins. Inj. Frts., 352. Harvey, Maine Agr. Exp. Sta. Ann. Kept. 

 1895 : 111. Also Bull. 35. Trypeta Canadensis, Loew, Mon. Dip. N. 

 Am., 3 : 235. Gillette, Bull. Colo. Exp. Sta., 19 :18. 



This insect is a yellow or orange -colored fly, about the size of 

 the common house-fly, with greenish iridescent eyes and smoky 

 patches or bands across its wings. It punctures the skin of the 

 young currant or gooseberry, depositing its egg just beneath. This 

 soon develops into a small white grub which measures about one- 

 third of an inch in length. Its presence causes the fruit to turn 

 red and fall to the ground prematurely. After becoming full 

 grown, the maggots leave the fruit and enter the ground, where 

 they change to pupae, emerging as perfect flies early the following 

 summer. 



Although not usually considered a serious enemy, it has been 

 found very destructive in Colorado, and also in Maine, causing the 

 loss of 75 per cent of the fruit at times. 



Remedies. No very practicable remedy seems yet to have been* 

 found. The insect spends about eleven months of the year safely 

 buried in the ground. No way of destroying the mature flies 

 seems feasible, and the egg is deposited beneath the skin of the 

 fruit beyond the reach of insecticides. The only weak point in its 

 campaign appears to be that part of the infested fruit drops pre- 

 maturely and the larvse remain in it for a time after it falls. 

 Hence, frequently gathering and burning the fallen fruit will de- 

 stroy many. If all the insects thus fell with the fruit, this would 



