134 



The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Fig. 40. — Currant Borer. ■ 

 a, Chrysalis, b, Larva. 



ing on the pith all through the summer, enlarging the channel as they grow 

 older, until at last they .have bored out a hollow several inches in length. 

 When full-grown, the larva (b Fig. 40.) is whitish and fleshy, of a cylindrical 

 form, with brown head and legs, and a dark line along the middle on its 

 back. Before changing to a chrysalis, a passage is eaten through the stem, 

 leaving merely the thin outer skin unbroken, thus preparing the way for the 

 escape of the moth. 



Within this cavity the larva changes to a chrysalis, (a Fig. 40, where 

 both larva and chrysalis are shown magnified.) Early in June the chrysalis; 

 wriggles itself forward, and, pushing against the 

 thin skin covering its place of retreat, ruptures it, 

 and then partly thrusts itself out of the opening, 

 when in a short time the moth bursts its prison- 

 house and escapes, soon depositing eggs, from 

 which larvae are hatched and carry on the work 

 of destruction. 



While this insect chiefly infests the red and 

 white currant, it attacks the black currant also, 

 and occasionally the gooseberry. Where the hollow stems do not break 

 off", indications of the borers may be found in the sickly look of the leaves- 

 and the inferior size of the fruit. 



The writer has found this insect very troublesome, especially in the red 

 currant bushes, almost every stem of wood over two years old 

 soon putting on a sickly appearance, and, on cutting, is found to be hollowed 

 out by this borer. If we were to follow the tree form of pruning the currant,, 

 as practiced in England, our plantations would soon become worthless, but 

 by growing it in bush form, renewing the stems every year or two, and 

 keeping up a constant succession of new growth from the ground as we do»- 

 with raspberries, no trouble need be apprehended from this enemy. The^ 

 old and feeble wood should be cut away in spring or fall and burned, and. 

 thus the chrysalis is destroyed before it has issued from the stem for further 

 mischief. 



The American Currant-borer is not so destructive as the former, and 

 consequently need hot be described at length. It belongs to the family of 

 beetles, (Coleoptera), while the former belongs to the 

 moths, (Lejndoptera.) The larva has much the same; 

 habits as the imported borer, but is smaller and has nc* 

 feet, and several are often found in the same stock . 

 The beetle is shown in Fig. 41, where the left hand 

 Fig. 41- drawing shows its natural size, and the right hand one 



is magnified to show its characteristics. The color is brownish. The same; 

 method of warfare that is successful with the one, is also successful with the 

 other. 



