99 8 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



Fig. 648) and of the Gooseberry and Currant Sawfly (Nematus 

 Ribesii, Fig. 649). Both these occur in spring, and the first- 



Fig. 648.— Perfect Insect, Caterpillar, and Chrysalis of Gooseberry 



Moth. 



named also appears in autumn. 



Then come the caterpillars of 

 the Spinach Moth (Cidaria 

 dotata, Fig. 650). Spraying 

 with Paris Green when the 

 fruits are small is the remedy 

 to apply, as all are chewing 

 insects. Powdered hellebore 

 dusted on in the morning 

 is also effective. Both are 

 virulent poisons. It is not 

 advisable to use them when 

 the fruit is of a size for 

 market or the kitchen. The 

 insects are all leaf-feeders. 



Far more difficult to deal 

 with, however, are two moths 

 whose larva; affect the shoots, 

 causing them to droop and 

 die. These are the Curr,ant 

 Clear-wing Moth (Sesia tipuli- 

 formis) and the Currant Shoot 

 Moth {Lampronia capitella). 



Insecticides are of little use in either case, and certainly not in 



the first. The Lampronia species also 



attacks the fruits for the sake of the 



seeds contained. Removal of all such 



shoots, and of prematurely-coloured fruits 



on trees known to be infested, would be 



beneficial. 



The greatest pest of all is the Currant- T 



Bud Mite (Phytoptus ribis), which has F ' G - 6 5°-Spinach Moth. 



hitherto baffled all the most experienced entomologists to cope with 



its attacks. Black Currants only are infested, and the terminal 



Fig. 649. — Larva of Gooseberry and 

 Currant Sawfly. 



