52 INSECTS. 



The Goosebbeet Saw-plt. — Nematus ventricosus. — This 

 insect feeds, when ia the worm state, on the currant and goose- 

 berry, and these usually mate their appearance in such numhers 

 that they soon strip the plants of their leaves. The perfect insect 

 is a small, foui-winged fly, about as large as the common house 

 fly. About the flist of May the female fly deposits her eggs along 

 the ribs on the under side of the leaf. She is provided with a 

 delicate' saw, with which she cuts slits ia the leaf ribs to hold 

 the eggs. The eggs are very small and white, distinctly visible 

 without the help of a microscope. These hatch in a few days, 

 and the little worms immediately begia their work of devouring 

 the leaves. They are of a pale green color, dotted with black. 

 As soon as they acquire a little size and strength, they may be 

 found on the edges of the leaves, holdiag on by the fore legs, in 

 such a position as to bring the edge of the leaf to their mouths, 

 thus enabling them to consume it with the greatest facility. The 

 worms attain to a length of about three-quarters of an inch, and 

 when fully grown, descend to the ground, burrow a short distance 

 into the soU, and there change into the chrysalis state. About 

 the first of July, the flies come out of the chrysalis, crawl out 

 of the ground, and deposit a second supply of eggs, from 

 which a second brood of worms is hatched. These do as their 

 predecessors had done, making fearful havoc with the leaves of 

 currant and gooseberry, and descending into the ground, pass 

 into the chrysalis state. This second brood, however, remains 

 in the ground aU winter, awaiting the return of spring and the 

 putting forth of the young leaves before the flies come out to de- 

 posit their eggs. Besides these two regular armies of saw-fly 

 worms which invade our currants and gooseberries every sum- 

 mer, there are occasional raids from irregular squadrons, which 

 do mischief in proportion to their numbers, and make it neces- 

 sary to keep continual watch and ward. Fortunately, we have, 

 in powdered white hellebore, a cheap and perfect instrument of 

 destruction. It can be procured of the druggists at from forty to 

 fifty cents per pound, and an ounce of this mixed with about a 



