Insects which attach the Raspberry. 411 



they were covered with rime frost, and dead to appearance ; but when placed 

 in the warmth they soon began to hum. Perhaps the cause may be owing to 

 something pecuhar in the insect for local districts ; for instance, it is said that 

 the hornet is not found in Cambridge or Lincolnshire : the fact that they 

 abound in Norfolk, an adjoining county, is in favour of this. There is one 

 thing, however, much against it ; that is, hornets are never so numerous as 

 wasps; yet there are more queens reared in their nests than in those of wasps. 

 This argues in favour of the climate and food being more against their 

 increase. The hornet may be considered more an inhabitant of woods than 

 the wasp ; and, as regards food, though they visit the garden and orchard in 

 search of it, still their greatest supply is from the forest. They will unbark 

 the young shoots of trees ; for instance, the ash : frequently the shoots 

 appear as if they had been eaten by rabbits. This shows they have great 

 power in their mandibles ; and it is a curious fact, that, like some other insects 

 when in confinement, in a pill-box for instance, they do not attempt to escape 

 by cutting through it, which they could do in a few minutes." 



Hornets have been very numerous during the last season. I have assisted 

 in destroying many of their nests, which gave me an opportunity of observing 

 their manner of defence. If their nests had not been previously disturbed, 

 they might be approached with safety; if otherwise, not. At first, when the 

 attack is made, those that issue from the nest show bold resistance, yet 

 seldom sting without giving notice of their intention, by whizzing with great 

 force close by one's ear ; but, for all their strength and courage, they sooner 

 give way than their weaker fellows the wasps : these are waspish to the last, 

 while the hornets that escape hum off in the distance. 



Cossey Gardens, April 4. 1 843. 



Art. V. Some Account of the Insects which attach the Raspberry. 

 By J. O. Westwood, F.L.S , Secretary to the Entomological So- 

 ciety of London. 



There are but few species of insects which materially injure 

 the leaves or fruit of the raspberry. This plant, like most vege- 

 tables, has, of course, its aphis and its lepidopterous caterpillars 

 which gnaw the leaves ; but the obnoxious species may be con- 

 sidered as consisting only of the grub of a moth which attacks 

 the bud, and that of a beetle which attacks the fruit. Of the 

 former, the individuals are produced in the preceding autumn, 

 and are thus of a considerable size when the spring developes 

 the buds, into the base of which they burrow and penetrate to 

 the heart, consuming the embryo flowers and leaves in the same 

 manner as I have described in my account of the caterpillar of 

 the apricot moth. The buds thus attacked may be easily known 

 by their faded appearance, and should be hand-picked and de- 

 stroyed. 



The other insect above mentioned does not commence its 

 attacks until the fruit approaches maturity. Many of the 

 berries may now be perceived more or less shriveled, with the 

 seed-vessels dried up. If one of these be opened, the central 

 core of the fruit will be found more or less burrowed, as well as 

 the fruit, the seeds of which are left bare and dry, especially at 



