82 



GOOSEBERKY. 



Gooseberry and Ivy Red Spider. Bnjohia prcBtiosa, C. L. Koch. 



Bryobia prz-etiosa, from life ; B. speciosa (outline figure after Koch) : both magnified. 

 Leaf infested by "Eed Spider," nat. size. 



During the past spring and early summer, Gooseberry leafage was 

 infested to a very unusual extent by a small Acanis, or " Mite," 

 commonly known as "Red Spider." This Mite is of a different species 

 to the well-known " Eed Spider" of the Hop, and is very commonly to 

 be found on Ivy leaves ; but in the past season, without apparently 

 being less present on Ivy, it extended its infestation to Gooseberry 

 leafage to an amount causing serious loss to growers in many 

 localities. 



The first report of the mischief that was going forward was sent 

 me on the 15th of March from Great Eversden, near Cambridge, by 

 Mr. Francis Nixon, and from that time until the 21st of June enquiries 

 were sent as to the best means for checking the evil. Letters regarding 

 this prevalence of Red Spider were sent from localities over a large 

 area of country ; it was reported from near Rochester and Brighton, 

 and other places in Kent, and Sussex, and near Lymington, in Hants. 

 In Hertfordshire I had it in my own garden, and it was also present 

 at Watford. Special observations of the presence of the Mite as a 

 most destructive pest were sent from various places in Cambridgeshire ; 

 notably from near Wisbech, Histon, Meldreath, and Great Eversden, 

 near Cambridge, and from grounds of growers up to an extent of three 

 hundred acres. More westerly, it was noticed as troublesome at 

 Pershore, and also at Evesham, in Worcestershire; it was also reported 



